Premiere: Listen: Menomena Remix Empty Pools’ ‘Small Talk’

‘Small Talk’, the lead track from Bristol outfit Empty Pools’ debut full-length ‘Saturn Reruns’, stands out alongside fellow album previewer ‘Exploded View’ as a head-scratching, structure-shifting mission statement. Its jerky twists and turns and sudden detours remain the stuff of wonder, as light to dark shifts come in heady supply.

Clearly, this studio knowhow and smart songwriting knack has won over a fan in fellow experimentalists Menomena. The Portland outfit have flicked a switch, given the original a new layer of crimson-coloured paint. If you deemed the original a clever beast, wait till you meet its full-toothed other half.

Elements of grit and grunge have softened out, leering into the foreground rather than stealing all focus from the off. It’s two curious creatures combining - a match conjured up by well-schooled musicianship gods.

Play Empty Pools’ ‘Small Talk’ (Menomena Remix) below. It’s also a free download, available here.



Empty Pools dates (* = w/ Eleanor Friedberger):

AUGUST
29 Manchester, Night and Day*
30 Cambridge, Lodestar Festival*
31 Edinburgh, Sneaky Pete’s*

SEPTEMBER
01 Glasgow, Broadcast*
02 Newcastle, The Cluny*
03 London, Bush Hall*

OCTOBER
12 Bristol, Simple Things Festival