Speed Stick is a project started by drummers Laura King (Bat Fangs) and Thomas Simpson (the Love Language) that has grown to feature a rotating cast that also includes Polvo’s Ash Bowie, the Paul Swest’s Charles Chace, and the many collaborators featured on their upcoming debut album Volume One.

King and Simpson started off their work on the album by recording drum tracks and sending them out to some of their musician friends. Included on that list were Superchunk’s Mac McCaughan, the Love Language’s Stuart McLamb, and Kelley Deal of the Breeders.

Deal is featured on the first track Speed Stick are sharing from their debut, “Knots,” and she worked on the track with her R. Ring bandmate Mike Montgomery. It’s the kind of sticky, gritty, and thoroughly great work that only tried-and-true musicians could come up with.

“We got the track “Knots” back from Kelley and Mike on the night of a show we were playing, so we all jammed in my car outside the venue and I hit play,” Speed Stick shared in a statement. “Eyes widened and our jaws dropped, then we all laughed. It was a perfect moment to sit in. Nervous laughter and excitement. Time really did stand still, and knowing me I probably even teared up. It was perfect.”

Check it out below.

TRACKLIST:
01 “Protect Your Magic” (Featuring Ash Bowie & Charles Chace)
02 “Knots” (Feat. Kelley Deal & Mike Montgomery)
03 “Twin Collision” (Feat. Stuart McLamb)
04 “Plants” (Feat. Ben Felton)
05 “And Again” (Feat. Nora Rogers & Jenny Waters)
06 “Lurk On Me” (Feat. Juan Huevos)
07 “SS Grandmama” (Feat. Mac McCaughan)
08 “Let It Shine” (Feat. Ryan Gustafson)
09 “Pretty Sure” (Feat. Casey Cook, Laura King, & Rob Liberti)
10 “Spleed Splick” (Feat. Clarque Blomquist)

Volume One is out 1/22 via Don Giovanni Records. Pre-order it here.