It is no secret that we are fans of Dan Knishkowy’s Adeline Hotel here at Various Small Flames, having written about their releases since Leave The Lights back at the beginning of 2015. As we wrote back in August, this autumn sees Knishkowy back with a brand new record, away together, to be released on Ruination Record Co.
Described as the most collaborative Adeline Hotel record to date, away together includes help from Will Stratton, Ben Seretan, Sean Mullins, Andrew Stocker, Cassandra Jenkins and Mike ‘Slo-Mo’ Brenner (of Magnolia Electric Co.). With the larger supporting cast comes an increasingly vivid sound, Knishkowy drawing upon the talents of his friends and colleagues to push the Adeline Hotel style beyond its previous limits.
As we described in a preview piece, ‘Habits’ is “probably the happiest, most positive Adeline Hotel song to date,” unashamed joy replacing the pensive style that marked the earlier releases, while second single ‘Looking for the Same Thing’ is perhaps not as quite as celebratory, though maintains a lazy upbeat nature. Other tracks on the record enter an altogether more energetic space, edging closer into pure indie rock, and the rich ballads make a reappearance too, with some of the most evocative, warmly wistful songs Knishkowy has penned to date.
Today we’re delighted to share ‘Lightning’, the final single to be unveiled before the album is released proper at the end of the month. Feeling alive from its opening notes, the track is electrically charged, the guitars snaking with curious vitality, the confident drums racing with an optimistic impetus. With its clever nod to ‘Slow Education’ by Silver Jews, the chorus of ‘Lightning’ picks up this sense of momentum. If the “Oh I’m lightning / Oh I’m rain” of David Berman represents some bipolar existence, then Knishkowy throws his his toward the manic end of the spectrum, the track’s frantic, cacophonous close a sense of pure motion.
“Oh, we’re lightning
Don’t incite me
Tried everything
Hold the line, reload”
Photo by Chris Bernabeo, album art by Chrissy Ziegler