Daniel Rossen: Silent Hour/Golden Mile (EP)

    One of my favorite albums has quickly become Grizzly Bear's Veckatimest. So, as I've been looking out for the next Grizzly Bear release (sometime in 2012 I hear), I noticed this EP by Daniel Rossen. As a singer/songwriter/guitarist for Grizzly Bear, Silent Hour/Golden Mile (EP) is comprised of tracks not used by the band for their upcoming fourth album. It, Rossen's debut solo work, arrived March 20th on Warp Records. The artwork is by Amelia Bauer, and I love the use of space. You expect someone to be standing in front of the rocks, posed for a picture or something, instead it is the "silent hour" and no on is to be found, or something...
    In 2001, Daniel Rossen started his career in a band called Department of Eagles, while at New York University with his friend, Fred Nicolaus. Together, they put out a couple 7-inches and a debut, The Cold Nose (originally titled The Whitey on the Moon UK). Mainly, this gig was meant to be sort of a joke, as they dabbled in trip hop, west coast hip hop, lo-fi, sampled a lot of songs, and utilized the most "out there" song titles they could fabricate. Still continuing on, Department of Eagles did put out another LP in 2008, In Ear Park, on 4AD Records. Rossen joined Grizzly Bear in 2005, and is actually not one of the original members, but clearly it can be said he has added a wealth of talent and depth to the band; his influence is noticeable.
    The five track EP, Silent Hour/Golden Mile contains some fine work. Mainly Psych folk, it is labeled as Baroque Pop on Wikipedia, but I reserve Baroque Pop for music that is actually Neo-Baroque in nature (i.e. Vampire Weekend or Sufjan Stevens), not just because it uses brass and woodwind instruments. Here's a closer look at the music:
(1) "Up on High" - Sort of a laid back feeling, with a repeated structure that is extended beyond a simple harmonic progression. Indigenous to Grizzly Bear, the syncopated chords that go back and forth right before  smoothing out with a change in texture and character, before starting the progression over again. This would all make sense more in the context of the music, I'm sure. A nice simple melody too, with a cross between a steel guitar or ukulele depending on how hard the guitar is strummed. The sustained cello is nice underneath too.
(2) "Silent Song" - A more upbeat waltz with a twang. Love the chord progression, it is deceptive, meaning you don't expect it, but it works so nicely. Some harmonized vocals at the chorus, nice counterpoint in the melody. Digging the guitar timbre too, almost lo-fi or distorted, but clean too. Fantastic song, if what they put on Grizzly Bear's album is better than this, I'm super excited!
(3) "Return to Form" - The guitar work in this is excellent! Steel guitar sounding again, with just repeated notes, but jumping the octave, very cool effect; heightens the idea of anticipation of the "return to form". The drums come in half way through and the song grows quite cacophonous, but emerges into this nice heavier electric guitar section, with brass and winds showing up along the way too.
(4) "Saint Nothing" - A more reposeful song, with piano and some brass sustained notes (long and held, almost ambient in nature in their use here). The piano accompaniment is a little one note--if you listen to this you'll get the pun--but the use of bassoon midway through is a great touch. A beautifully somber piece.
(5) "Golden Mile" - More steel guitar, which I love! And bring on the syncopation on beats two and three, which comes in and out against the smoother one feeling triple time signature (it is in 3, but feels like 1). Very rhythmic music, with harmonized vocals, and a fade out to finish.
    Really enjoyable music with a lot of depth, the more you listen, the more you may find yourself liking Daniel Rossen's songwriting and his Silent Hour/Golden Mile (EP). Apparently, Warp Records has no issue with giving you the YouTube audio of this entire album, you can listen to it in it's entirety on their website here. Or do so here on YouTube itself. Enjoy!