Four Tet Iron Man (Black Sabbath Cover)

Their formula is simple, but by starting with slow build-ups and bursting through into soaring, epic and emotionally powerful choruses, Shearwater has once again produced a gem of an album. Based out of Austin, Texas, Shearwater was formed by two band members of Okkervil River, who wished to write a softer, more folk-influenced style of music. Since that day, woodwinds, strings,  keyboard, and a retinue of unusual instrumentation have led the way.

The group first caught my attention with 2008's Rook, their fifth album at the time. With this, their sixth release (due February 23rd, 2010 in the U.S.), Shearwater will undoubtedly stay on my radar. The album itself, I am certain, promises to provide the perfect winter soundtrack.

Another new Shearwater track from the upcoming full length The Golden Archipelago surfaced today, again courtesy of Matablog (Matador Records' own blog). We featured "Castaways" when it was made available to the public, which showed tremendous promise for the new record with its lush instrumentation as a teaser. This time though, "Black Eyes" fully immerses us in the Shearwater sound. It's an incredibly evocative song "“ powerful, engaging, and all-encompassing. Meiburg sounds like he's letting it all go on The Golden Archipelago; his emotions drive the tunes to their apex. Very few singers can accomplish such a feat through singing, but Meiburg gets us again and again with that voice - Knox Road