How does movement (or lack thereof) through space relate to the way our identities develop? What do places have to do with the way we think about ourselves and define the limits of the possible? Is the material world a “scaffold of memory” or do our memories provide foundations for the ongoing production of the world? Or both? That’s what this song and video are about…on one level, at least.

Driving in the Dark from I and I on Vimeo.

photo from the cover by Matt Shell

In a way, this new single evokes a similar feeling and kinship with one of my favorite records (and one that was influential in getting me back into music after a hiatus) The Pistol Arrows ‘Look’.  That being said these new songs are definitely fresh and new and unlike anything that Eric has previously recorded.  I guess it would be appropriate to call this single a true double A sided single.  Neither song is a B side or lesser accomplishment.  ‘Strange Power’ the lead off, starts off with ominous piano and drums not unlike the children’s  song ‘Halloween’s Coming’ and from there it maintains this thumping pensive groove under lyrics of the Strange Power of attraction.  There is a full sparseness here that feels like nothing extraneous is present and all the parts are working synergistically together.  The song does away with the traditional A, B type structure as it enters an upbeat outro section that nicely segues into the feeling of the second song.  The outro lyrics evoke the poignant feeling I mentioned earlier and there is a sense of resolve about the fact that many things in life are never resolved.  ‘So She Says’ starts off with a mysterious upbeat modern New Wave type vibe and progresses along that line interweaving synths, drums, guitars and vocals in ways not often heard this side of something great like Modern English’s ‘Melt With You’.  “It’s too dark in this house” nicely encapsulates the sentiment of a lot of the lyrics which explore parting and relationships and the “houses” where such things take place.

In short, this has been an attempt to describe how much I love these songs and to preview what you will soon be hearing when they are released early next month.  We have a lot of other good releases on the way which we’ll be mentioning in future postings.  I will soon be heading over to Norway to play some I and I shows.  You can read more details on that on my iandimusic.com site and I hope to post some stuff here and there on the trip.  For now I’ll leave you with the cover of Eric’s new single below.  Appropriately it’s a photo of Eric’s friend trying to catch the setting sun.

Adam