Earlier in the month we introduced Wise Blood, an upcoming album from Blue Yonder on Earth Libraries which had something of a troubled creation. “While in the woods of upstate New York,” we wrote, “they were forced to contend with a variety of trials and hazards, from a potentially haunted tape machine and bad mushroom trips to the escape of their house cat (named, fittingly, Bigfoot).” But rather than descending into Jack Torrance-style madness, the band spun the situation to their advantage, using the difficulties as a way to ground the songs’ emotional immediacy, and give them a sense of authentic energy and tension which is impossible to fake. As lead guitarist and album producer DJ O’loane puts it: “I like the immediacy of capturing a moment in time and having to commit to it.”
The process goes some way to explaining the distinctive sound of Wise Blood. A diverse album entirely committed to whatever direction each song takes, as though leaning into the spontaneity of the moment. Which is how haunting atmospheres and pressing energies can exist side by side, and the vibe can shift between the weight of nineties rock classics to the evocative playfulness of a spaghetti western soundtrack. As though by retreating to a cabin in the middle of nowhere, Blue Yonder managed to distil an even purer form of escapism, their songs a collection of cinematic vignettes which come to represent their own little world.
Today we have the pleasure of sharing ‘Movies’, the brand new single from the album which takes on just such themes. It’s a slow and sultry track situated within a swampy summer, Karalena Fjortoft’s lyrics pining for a place to flee to away from the heat and light and constant nagging thoughts. A place perhaps not always considered an oasis, but fitting nonetheless. “The greatest invention for escapists is the Movies and this song is dedicated to them,” the band explain. A cool, dark room full of distraction. What else could a distressed person need?
Wise Blood is out on the 24th February via Earth Libraries.