[MP3] new Small Black: “Photojournalist”

Floating Fest alums and perennial electro-fuzz enthusiasts Small Black are returning this fall with their debut LP New Chain (Oct 26th on Jagjaguwar). Most music journos and blogs like to lump these guys in with the chillwave crowd (they emerged at the same time as Neon Indian and Toro y Moi, and toured the country, including our SXSW ’10 set, with none other than Captain Chill Wave himself: Ernest Greene a.k.a. Washed Out)… The “chillwave” label isn’t completely a stretch, but there’s one major element separating these guys from the pack: Small Black is a full band who play real instruments (along with the synths).

Now that we’ve cleared that up, here’s the band’s latest track called “Photojournalist” from the upcoming New Chain LP:

[MP3] Small Black – Photojournalist (via Forkcast)

Well doesn’t this track have pretty much every expected chillwave staple busting out its sides? A static thumping beat, hazy anthemic vocals, 808 drums, sharp synth melodies, and a sluggish delivery to our ears. Sure, it sounds pleasant. Yeah, I’ll probably have it on repeat for a while. And yeah, it’s probably going to maintain my positive expectations for the album. But that’s all because generic chillwave is something we’ve come to appreciate. It’s likable, not lovable, and that’s something we’re ok with. On the flip side, tracks like “Weird Machines” from last year’s self-titled EP had something real about them, a uniquely meaningful and surprisingly endearing sound that just doesn’t come across in “Photojournalist,” where Josh Kolenik just sounds passive and uninvolved.

I’m keeping my hopes up for New Chain on the strength of the debut EP alone, but I really hope Small Black can still keep themselves away from the complacence of being just another chillwave act.