Piers – “The Rook” (Stereogum Premiere)
Piers, formerly known as Gondola, will release their self-titled debut album a few weeks from now, and single “The Rook” suggests it will be an album worth hearing. There’s a real sense of forward motion in the song’s convergence of pretty guitar chords, floaty falsetto, crisp rhythm, and slyly melodic bass. From that introductory sound, Piers veer into noise-pop bombardment, sweeping choral arrangements, and low-key psych that sprawls into rave-up dance-punk. There’s a pleasing lack of formality and a scrappy sense of possibility in this music. If you fondly remember the late, great blog-rockers Evangelicals, “The Rook” might scratch the same adventurous itch. Hear it below.
Piers is out 9/16.