Los Angeles underground HEALTH presents a new experimental noise-pop single “Delicious Ape,” featuring post-punk band Xiu Xiu. The two groups are unexpectedly matched in this collaborative single, driving listeners to almost believe the new single comes out from one single band. “Delicious Ape” is out today via Loma Vista Recordings, Flood Magazine reports.
In the 5-minute-ish single, a high-pitched and soft voice from HEALTH’s lead singer Jacob Duzsik opens the atmospheric track; Xiu Xiu’s frontman, Jamie Stewart joins the vocals with his disparately wacky voice at the second part. The intensity of both band’s signature loud rock parts doesn’t arrive until the fourth minute of the whole song. Before the noise-rocking explodes, squealing guitars, asymmetrical basslines, knob-twiddling sounds build up a foundation. When the tribal drum finally kicks in, soft melody and gentle humming contrast with all the distorted noises, everything blends together. The deep cut eventually wraps up as a beautiful piano ballad, leaving tranquility to ease ears.
Speaking of the highly-anticipated collaboration, HEALTH shared, “The noise/DIY scene of the mid ’00s was characterized by an incredibly high tolerance for ‘difficult’ musical experiences.” HEALTH pointed out the difficulty of the noise-rock genre, “A preoccupation with abrasive experimentalism is not exactly a recipe for toe-tapping or hummable melody, and many of us obscured the more enjoyable elements of music-making and listening in favor of weird shit…”
Stewart complimented Xiu Xiu’s musical uniqueness as noise music mainstays and expressed their excitement about this combination. “But not Xiu Xiu, goddamn it. No other project of the most formative era for our band even comes close to so perfectly combining the elements of free noise, drone music, and experimental electronics with raw emotion, melody and choruses. Nobody else even had choruses. Not many of us are left of this particular vintage. Most of the scene moved on to DJing house and starting podcasts. Xiu Xiu is still making great and uniquely moving music. We are simply happy to get the chance to be a part of it.”
HEALTH recently released their fourth studio album, Vol.4 :: Slaves of Fear, calling off their 4-year hiatus since 2015’s DEATH MAGIC. HEALTH and Daughters will finish the rest of their co-headlining tour, featuring hardcore punk band Show Me The Body. Check out the YouTube video of “Delicious Ape” below.
HEALTH – TOUR DATES:
12/13 – Birmingham, AL – Saturn#
12/14 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade#
12/15 – Orlando, FL – The Orpheum#
12/17 – Carborro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
12/18 – Washington DC – 9.30 Club#
12/19 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Steel#
12/20 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer#
12/21 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club#
04/16 – Tilburg, NL – Roadburn Festival
04/17 – Cologne, DE – Luxor
04/18 – Brno, CZ – Kabinet Muz
04/19 – Krakow, PL – ZetPeTe
04/20 – Warsaw, PL – Hydrozagadka
04/21 – Berlin, DE – Bi Nuu
04/23 – Paris, FR – Petit Bain, New Noise Night
# co-headline w/ Daughters, special guest Show Me The Body
Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat
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