David Grubbs supposedly describes his new album An Optimist Notes The Dusk as "a step into the void," which doesn't sound overly optimistic. His first solo record since 2004's poppier A Guess At The Riddle does sound good and enjoyable fractured, though. It consists of five longer songs (hence the "edit" in the above headline) and an 11-minute instrumental. Fans of his work in Gastr del Sol or the nighttime blues of Loren Connors should appreciate the spare, nay skeletal, knottiness. Listen:
David Grubbs - "An Optimist Declines (Edit)" (MP3)
That press photo should be titled "A Pessimist Reclines."
An Optimist Notes The Dusk is out 9/23 via Drag City.
[Photo by Thatcher Keats]
