Last year Brooklyn experimental rock quintet Salt Cathedral released a self titled 5 song EP. In addition to reintroducing the world to them under their new moniker with a proper release, it also showed that their fivesome meant business. An album was in the works and would most certainly be coming but until then Salt Cathedral offered up 5 of their best live staples and let music lovers have at.
While a full length efforts has yet to properly materialize, the start of this year has brought something almost as enjoyable. A B-side in the form of “Rainy Days”. “Rainy Days” continues in what is rapidly becoming Salt Cathedral’s signature of complexly layered yet surprisingly spacious pop songs. It’s all vibrant melodies that soar clear over the track’s alternating forward pitching and screwed down amble. Salt Cathedral’s normal tropicalia vibes are obscured a little, subtle in the track’s momentous shifting – the track’s beats are a R&B producer’s dream. Ultimately the track rises above the indie R&B by never losing sight of Salt Cathedral’s strong sense of identity. Even when embarking on more furtive paths, Salt Cathedral’s instrumental precision and Juliana Ronderos’ effervescent siren song establish Salt Cathedral’s firm sense of self.
“Rainy Days” is a playful jaunt further into the sea of experimentation. One of looser song structure and seemingly limitless textural possibilities that provides just the right breath of freshness where one really wasn’t needed. It’s an additional treat that essentially flexes Salt Cathedral’s creative muscle in a way that can only lead to bigger and better things. The fact that Salt Cathedral considers a song like “Rainy Days” to be a b-side certainly hints at it.
