For those of you who are fans of the late lamented Remy Zero out of Birmingham Alabama, you’re going to enjoy the upcoming screed. For those of you unaware, do yourselves a favor and check them out the next thing you do after reading this. Jeffrey Cain was one of RZ’s guitarists and vocalists, and since the band called it quits he’s written for and played on a number of projects and collaborations, perhaps most notably Isidore with Steve Kilby of Australia’s The Church. That band’s self-titled 2004 release sparkled with incandescent textured guitars and Kilby’s melancholy-drenched vocals. Caine has also been a touring member of the Church since 2017 and had planned on being in Australia last year (2020) to officially join the band and help write and record their next album. Needless to say, those plans were put on hold, but instead of twiddling his thumbs Caine got together in Los Angeles with Eric Avery of Jane’s Addiction on bass, Jebin Bruni on keys, and Leslie Van Treese on drums, and spent a week in Dave Grohl’s studio, taking advantage of a whole bunch of vintage gear including the classic Neve 8028 mixing board from the renowned Sound City studios. Turn’s out Dave’s board just happens to be the same one that Remy Zero’s 1998 Alt-rock classic “Villa Elaine” was recorded on as well. The new collaboration was christened Iris Doe, and just added to my playlist is “The Times” the debut single from a forthcoming LP. The track’s opening lyric “Hey Hey Hey, My My My,” tips a lyrical hat to Neil Young as Caine/Iris’ reverb washed vocals proceed to weave a story of frustrated exhaustion with just a sliver of hope as the song’s tuned down drums propel the song forward with rolling pianos and effervescent psychedelic guitars, that whets the appetite for the full album due in April, 2021.
REF: SparkNetwork.com
Sacramento’s K-ZAP 93.3 FM plays Iris Doe. All part of 50 years of Rock, Blues and More, 24-7 on our station’s stream at K-ZAP.ORG/LISTEN/
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