This week's new artist is the enigmatic A Blaze of Feather.
Just when it seemed like the age of supergroups was dead and gone, Ben Howard and his buddies fused their unique styles to create something quite profound. It's almost as satisfying as a new Ben Howard solo record would be (wink, wink).
The blend of styles is even more impressive when one listens to each individual member's respective body of work, including the Spektorian vibes of India Bourne's piano-driven ballads, the atmospheric tones that Mickey Smith employs and the arcane emotional impact of Ben Howard's reverberated vocals to tie it all together.
Their debut EP leans more on the side of abstract world music, but their self-titled LP truly brings out the sound of the whole band. Upbeat drums make all the difference, it would seem, since the majority of the album rides like a classic rock record in the vein of Steve Miller Band. Astoundingly, the sound leaves room for live jams while still keeping that cool, indie feel.
Perhaps what is so great about this diversity in their sound is that nothing seems off the table with A Blaze of Feather. If today, they are more blues-oriented, that does not guarantee they will have that same sound come next album. It feels like Ben Howard and the boys simply show each other a new riff, then hop in the studio and see what happens. You know, the way that bands used to write songs.
Following the Radiohead method of evolution is a good way to go. Best to change and experiment every album to avoid growing stale.
This band has already hit quite a few major festivals, but that is where their presence will most likely grow. It is easy to see them turn their already lengthy songs into ten-minute jams onstage with epic solos.
Though the project is new, it is hard to see it leaving a small or even brief impact like many supergroups of the past like Audioslave. Perhaps that is because A Blaze of Feather not only sounds like an evident fusion but it sounds like each respective member's fully realized potential.
The world needs a new art-rock indie band to get behind, and A Blaze of Feather should do the trick.
