Song of the Day: Faye - Ancient Bones

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Morning Show with John Richards, is “Ancient Bones” by Faye from their self-titled debut, Faye, out now on Tiny Engines.

Faye - Ancient Bones (MP3)

From past to present, North Carolina has spoiled us with some musical heavyhitters like Superchunk, Ben Folds Five, The Avett Brother to even John Coltraine and Thelonius Monk, and now Charlotte's newest indie punk trio Faye is throwing their hat in the ring. There's an indescribable feeling to find out about and listen to a band so new with a debut EP so hot off the press you can still smell the raw excitement. On Faye, the young rockers have collected textures to install a five-song musical mosaic that incorporates a cool blending of sliding chords, delay-angular riffs, and poppy vocals with fuzzy bass lines, whoa-ing woes, and well-placed points of dissonant tension in their songs. Even though Susan Plante (guitarist/lead vocals), Sarah Blumenthal (bass/vocals), and Kristen Leake (drums) are in their band's embryonic stage their sound is already maturely developed enough to be compared to The Breeders and will definitely please any Speedy Ortiz fans. The catchy "Yellow Canary" kicks off the album with a structure that cleverly gets interrupted by decaying swells but ends on a beefy tempo to set the tone for the Strokes-driving "Teacups" and Colleen Green-candied "Vowels." With each song averaging about two and half minutes, Plante knows how to journalistically cut straight to the chase about fun, but mundane experiences like spending money on whiskey and beer, wanting to be high, and lipstick on teacups. In the closing coda, "Ancient Bones," the album slows down to catch its breath and takes on a more serious, somber mood to chronicle an expression of laying love to rest. Looks like North Carolina has spoiled us again.

Faye doesn't have any tour dates lined up just yet, but you can stay up to date with them via their Tiny Engine's profile and also check out another jam from Faye entitled "Teacups" below.