Now, if you’ve been frequenting this site over the past few years, you’ve come across a handful of posts featuring JOVM mainstays and blogosphere darlings Sylvan Esso. And as you may recall, the duo of Mountain Man‘s Amelia Heath (vocals, synths) and Megafaun’s Nick Sanborn (synths, programming, production) have received attention for a slick, minimalist yet propulsive and thumping pop sound that’s a radical departure from the duo’s previous, individual projects.
Continuing their ongoing run of critically applauded and commercially successful releases, the duo’s Grammy-nominated, sophomore effort What Now featured the duo crafting material that inched towards a self-assured and coquettish, dance floor and radio friendly sound as you would have heard on album singles like “Radio,” “Jump Kick Start,” and “Die Young.” Thematically, the material on What Now focused on a critical and deeply sobering question” where we do go now as a culture, when it feels as though everyone and everything is standing at a precipice? And as result, What Now‘s material was imbued with the urgency of our contemporary political moment.
“PARAD(w/m)e,” the duo’s first single of 2018 — and the follow up to their critically and commercially successful sophomore effort, will further cement their reputation for coquettish yet forward looking electro pop as Heath’s come hither cooing is paired with a slick and glittering production featuring shimmering arpeggiated synths, hand clap-led percussion, thumping beats and a sinuous hook. And while sonically being upbeat, lyrically the song continues in a similar vein as their sophomore effort, as it manages to be deceptively ambivalent — is a celebration of love or a celebration of survival at all costs? Considering the contemporary political moment, perhaps ambivalence at all things is par for the course.
1/27/18 – Singapore, Singapore – Laneway Festival
1/29/18 – Auckland, NZ – Laneway Festival
1/31/18 – Melbourne, AU – Corner Hotel
2/02/18 – Adelaide, AU – Laneway Festival
2/03/18 – Melbourne, AU – Laneway Festival
2/04/18 – Sydney, AU – Laneway Festival
2/08/18 – Sydney, AU – Oxford Art Factory
2/10/18 – Brisbane, AU – Laneway Festival
2/11/18 – Fremantle, AU – Laneway Festival
2/13/18 – Honolulu, HI – The Republik
3/1-4/18 – Okeechobee, FL – Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival
3/4/18 – Punta Cana, DR – One Big Holiday
3/9-10/18 – New Orleans, LA – Buku Music & Arts Project
3/17/18 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
3/19/18 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
3/20/18 – Dallas, TX – Bomb Factory
3/22/18 – Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater
3/23/18 – Tempe, AZ – Innings Festival
3/24-25/18 – Houston, TX – In Bloom Music Festival
3/26/18 – Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom
3/27/18 – Des Moines, IA – Hoyt Sherman
3/29/18 – Grand Rapids, MI – 20 Monroe
3/30/18 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom
3/31/18 – North Adams, MA – MASS MoCA
4/02/18 – Portland, ME – State Theatre
4/03/18 – Montreal, QC – Corona Theatre
4/04/18 – Providence, RI – The Strand
4/06/18 – Richmond, VA – The National
4/07/18 – Knoxville, TN – Mill + Mine
7/13/18 – Troutdale, OR – Edgefield Amphitheatre
7/14/18 – Redmond, WA – Marymoor Amphitheatre
7/16/18 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory Concert House
7/17/18 – Ogden, UT – Ogden Amphitheater
7/20/18 – Minneapolis, MN – Surly Brewing Co.
7/21/18 – Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theatre
7/22/18 – Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theatre
7/23/18 – Chicago, IL – Riviera Theatre
7/26/18 – Washington, DC – Anthem
7/27/18 – Philadelphia, PA – XPN Fest
7/28/18 – Boston, MA – Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
7/30/18 – Clifton Park, NY – Upstate Concert Hall
7/31/18 – Toronto, Canada – Danforth Music Hall
8/01/18 – Toronto, Canada – Danforth Music Hall
8/02/18 – Burlington, VT – The Green at Shelburne Museum
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