What in the world did we do to deserve the greatness that is
St. Vincent? While at KCRW studios in Santa Monica for a guest DJ set, Vincent
premiered a new track entitled “Prince Johnny” from her forthcoming self-titled
album, and it is glorious. In regards to her previously released singles from
the album, Digital Witness and Birth In Reverse, Prince Johnny is far more
spacious. While those tracks experimented with thumping dance beats and horn
driven rhythms, Prince Johnny is moody and understated. Both lush and decidedly
stripped down, raw, Prince-inspired guitars meld with a forward pounding break
beat and murky bass line to give the song the feel of a midnight makeout
session, the type where the windows get really foggy. Vocally, St. Vincent is
incredibly emotive whilst still maintaining an air of calmness, and the backing
choir elevates this track to one of her most layered compositions yet. Spinning
a detailed story on a complicated relationship with a man named “Johnny”,
Clarke’s unique song-writing style is front and center here. Amongst the subtle
political and religious themes, Vincent muses about her and Johnny looking for
their place in the world, and contemplating whether or not that place is with
each other.
Between the up-tempo ennui-ravings of “Birth In Reverse” and the slow burning calculation of “Prince Johnny” it’s apparent that “St. Vincent” will be a trip of an album. Clark couldn’t have been more accurate when she called it “A party record you could play at a funeral”.
Look for “St. Vincent” to drop on Feb 25th via Loma Vista.
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