With the self-titled Sic Alps now ready to hit on September 10th via Drag City, we’re looking at another fresh dawn in the storied history of a band. But what really is the story anyway?
During Pavement’s “One More for the Money” tour of 2010, Sic Alps played some British gigs with them – it’s been written that during one long night in Brixton, Stephen Malkmus was heard uttering within shot of a microphone that Sic Alps would be one of the most important bands of the next ten years. Not that we’re inclined to disagree, but Malkmus is a habitual liar, so who knows how apocryphal one can really be about that.
All speculation aside, here are the facts as we know them: Sic Alps be the fifth album from Sic Alps, if you include the compilation album Long Way Around to a Shortcut, which we do. There’s been a number of singles and some splits and who knows, we may be looking at a second way around to a shortcut someday soon. First though, we deal with the cracking and recasting of the mold that is apparent when you start to hear the sounds of Sic Alps. Where on previous recordings there was space and distance, this time, they have carved a fuller sound, fleshed out with instrumental textures and classic vocal melodies, expanding upon the playful experimentation for which they’re known.
And lest you be deprived of that gentle bombshell, that first sting of strings, we present the lead-off track to the record, “Glyphs” premiered earlier this week on Pitchfork.
Sic Alps Tracklisting:
1. Glyphs
2. God Bless Her, I Miss Her
3. Lazee Son
4. Polka Vat
5. Wake Up, It’s Over II
6. Drink Up!
7. Thylacine Man
8. Moviehead
9. Rock Races
10. See You On The Slopes
Stay tuned for further information regarding this release in the near future.
http://www.dragcity.com/artists/sic-alps
