First released back in 2013, Cloud’s Comfort Songs introduced the world to the richly textured pop music of LA resident Tyler Taormina. Pitchfork called it “astoundingly accomplished,” BBC Radio 6 “excellent” and “a great record,” and whole host of indie blogs raised Cloud as the bright new thing, with more than a fair share of comparisons to Conor Oberst. Though following two self-released albums, Comfort Songs was a perfect example of the Audio Antihero modus operandi: a distinctive, experimental take on pop songs that rose seemingly from nowhere, blending earnest sentiment and self-deprecation to become both sonically and lyrically unique.
As such, fans of Taormina’s label mates Frog and CHUCK will recognise the creative philosophy that dictates the record, the use of wide-eyed sincerity and tongue-in-cheek irony allowing Cloud to explore the bummed-out confessional tone of Bright Eyes without ever descending into self-pity. Further, by funneling this through the prism of lush-but-lo-fi pop, the melancholy is at once accentuated and transcended, the often soaring instrumentation lifting what would otherwise be morose thoughts and consuming worries into something almost otherworldly. The result is an intensely personal and introspective record that manages to flip the self-focus into the complete opposite, aiming outwards to conjure empathy and connection, and hence living up to the album’s title.
Which is a long way of saying that Cloud is exceptionally good, and therefore the fact that Taormina is back with a brand new record, Plays With Fire, should be cause for much excitement. The press release only furthers the anticipation, promising “nine songs […] of quiet optimism and greying nostalgia, mixing the wide-eyed naïveté of Jonathan Richman with the cold-weather pop of Yo La Tengo and the fractured soundscapes of Galaxie 500.”
In preparation, Audio Antihero is releasing the first single, ‘Two Hands Bound’, at the end of February, complete with a new, non-album track as the B-side. The track is a sunny pop song that perseveres with positivity despite the lyrics exploring far more complex and existential ideas, as though putting on a certain level of happiness or confidence might let it come true—the Fake It ’til You Make It philosophy of dealing with life.
“I fell so low
some things you’ll never know
how odd to pray
tried again the other day
c’est la, c’est vous
got work in the afternoon.Born to die a thousand days
and, oh, to see what life remains
‘cause losing is a way of life
and building is another way of life”
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Plays With Fire is due for release on the 9th March, so keep an eye on the Audio Antihero Bandcamp page. In addition, Comfort Songs is still available, including on limited edition cassette, so why not treat yourself to that too?
Cover photo by Carson Lund