Ya Heard? Kestrels

While the usual name brands like Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Decemberists, and Silversun Pickups have made the top five their home the past couple months, little Nova Scotia trio, Kestrels, have made themselves quite comfy in the upper reaches of the 'tape with their single, "Seaside."

Seaside. The waves of the ocean crashing on the shore, comforting in their consistency, yet constantly shifting in force and pattern, create a visual that invites reflection and mediation. Staring out past the whitecaps, it's as if the infinite hydro-scape is reminding us mere humans how insignificant we (and all of our thoughts and fears) truly are. Overwhelming in its vastness, yet somehow managing to reassure its worshipers that life and its problems are small and temporary enough to be overcome.

Kestrel's first taste of their first full-length Primary Colours, to be released this June, evokes the comfort of a time, not too long ago, when songs with melodies, guitar, and thought-provoking lyrics were the norm. Sounding like Superchunk's Mac McCaughan mellowed out at a beach bonfire as J. Mascis plays guitar, just out of the fire's light, "Seaside" evokes this sandy simplicity in its familiar, yet shifting sound-scapes. The track snakes through several rhythmic phases, always retaining a pop sensibility, before fading with the coda, "The sun the sun, it's changing." Indeed it is Kestrels, but yours is about to rise.

Take a listen for yourselves.

Kestrels - Seaside