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audiObelisk: Caltrop Premiere “Blessed” From Ten Million Years and Eight Minutes

It feels like cheating somehow to post the song “Blessed” from North Carolinian foursome Caltrop‘s new album, Ten Million Years and Eight Minutes. I almost want to put out a spoiler alert with it — WARNING: THIS SONG CONTAINS AN ALBUM-DEFINING APEX.

Maybe that’s not the kind of thing that would fit on a government warning label, but it certainly applies to “Blessed,” which is the penultimate track on Caltrop‘s second full-length for Holidays for Quince Records. Like the rest of the tracks, it follows a blindingly creative direction that never lets go of its immediacy or tonal warmth, but really, to pick one song to premiere that represents Ten Million Years and Eight Minutes as a whole is impossible. The record is too varied, too progressively structured and too engaging as a single work to be so easily parsed.

So I picked what, to me, most feels like the culmination of it. We start off with winding, jazzy fuzz, but soon Caltrop — guitarist/vocalist Sam Taylor, bassist/vocalist Murat Dirlik (who also painted the butterflynoceros on the album cover), guitarist Adam Nolton, and drummer John Crouch — veer into the song’s proggy crux. Other parts of the record feel more informed by the band’s time on the road alongside Brooklyn post-metallers Hull, in what they’re playing more than how it actually sounds, but “Blessed” balances the same kind of tonal sweetness that made 2008’s World Class such a joy with neo-Southern lead work and an overarching build that sweeps you into it before you even realize you’re gone.

And then the warning above applies. “Blessed” has forward motion so subtle but so effective, I couldn’t help pick it to stream, and I hope you’ll agree when you enjoy it on the player below:

Here is the Music Player. You need to installl flash player to show this cool thing!

Ten Million Years and Eight Minutes was recorded and mixed by Nick Petersen in Chapel Hill, NC, and mastered by James Plotkin. The album will be available April 3 as a CD or download and can be pre-ordered through Holidays for Quince here. For more info, check out the band on Thee Facebooks or hit up their website.

Caltrop on tour:

04/12 Charleston, SC Tin Roof
04/14 Charlotte, NC Snug Harbor
04/20 Brooklyn, NY St. Vitus w/ Hull
04/21 Richmond, VA Strange Matter “Year of Shit III”
05/19 Asheville, NC The Get Down
05/22 Harrisonburg, VA Blue Nile
05/23 Pittsburgh, PA 31st Street Pub
05/24 Columbus, OH Carabar

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4 Responses to “audiObelisk: Caltrop Premiere “Blessed” From Ten Million Years and Eight Minutes

  1. Daniel says:

    I mean, what can you say? Caltrop, to me atleast, is one of the best bands in the world. I mean fuck, what else can you ask for? It’s authentic, creative, fucking rad a shit and to a music fan like myself, almost a religious experience aided with my morning coffee. These guys are the real fucking deal. No fucking doubt.

  2. Jay says:

    JJ,

    As usual great work (I”m doing my best to drop some comments here and there since I’m always reading). I missed these guys before. I was gettin’ into Tooth from the same area (and I think Caltrop put out their first one on Churchkey Records as well), but missed these guys last time.

    Just listened to this and it’s really fuckin’ good. I’ll have to try and procure a copy!
    -Jay

  3. Jon says:

    Oh man, I can’t wait for this. thanks for the track post. fuck…i can’t wait. i need it now. it’s been too long. i’m going to listen to world class right now.

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