In the years before David Berman’s untimely passing, he struck up a friendship with fellow musician and songwriter John Vanderslice. Among other things, the pair exchanged postcards, and one in particular stood out. “I can’t believe civilization is still going here in 2008!” Berman wrote. “Congratulations to all of us, Love, DCB.” The resonance of the message has only increased in the intervening years, and Vanderslice has tweaked it a little to form the title of his new EP.
Doubling as a tribute to Berman and an anti-suicide pact with himself, I can’t believe civilization is still going here in 2021! Congratulations to all of us, Love DCB is far more than imitation or pastiche. Indeed, there are no covers on the record, with John Vanderslice choosing to instead celebrate creation and experimentation. The result evokes the spirit of David Berman far more successfully than any cover album, pushing beyond the conventions of the genre to achieve those intangible things that marked his work.
After the ode to survival that was ‘I get a strange kind of pleasure from just hanging on,’ Vanderslice has unveiled a brand new single that furthers this style. ‘Taverns Of The Neo Subcortex’ marries beats with acoustic guitar to weave an off-kilter backing, as the vocals offer earnest advice on the art of perseverance. “This song is filled with nods to David’s writings, especially his amazing The Portable February,” Vanderslice told Under the Radar. “The last song on the EP with any kind of guidance, the lyrics warn the listener to be vigilant about their mental health. ‘Don’t leave death a nice clean shot.'”
Photo by Andrea DeSouto