New Chad VanGaalen - "Willow Tree"
We were just talking Calgary in the writeup for BTW the Neighbourhood Council. It's back to Alberta again with "Willow Tree," one of 12 new songs from ex-busker Chad VanGaalen's forthcoming Soft Airplane, the follow up to 2006's Skelliconnection. He captured the new one on "an old tape machine" and JVC boom box in his Calgary basement. The album's opener "Willow Tree" is a sad, joyfully resolved and pretty sing-song that involves water-born, Viking-style burial/cremation rites, fueled by kerosene and freedom. The willow tree plays an important roll, as do the melancholic horns.
Chad VanGaalen - "Willow Tree" (MP3)
Other songs on Soft Airplane deal with death, but this is my favorite: The way the instantly memorable melody, Neil Young-y vocal quaver, and various instrumental flourishes work to push it into the realm of the quietly anthemic. I haven't always been the biggest VanGaalen fan, but this one hits the spot.
Soft Airplane is out 9/9 on Sub Pop.
[Photo by Marc Rimmer]
Posted at 3:09 PM by brandon in MP3
Tags: Chad VanGaalen
This tune came on the compilation Sub Pop put together for the National Record Store Day. Since then, it's been my most played song. Look forward to hearing the new album and hope to see ya in the Okie City again
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Thanks for this, I'm really excited for the new album. Skelliconnection was wonderful. Took a few listens to get into, but once you were down, you'd get fully submerged.
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I fell in love with Chad instantly when I heard Infiniheart playing at a record store and can't wait for this album. One of my most played artists! Yay! Can't wait! Hope to catch him live sometime!
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