Cold Specks: "Winter Solstice"

One thing you don't see paired much is the contrast of expansive, orchestral baroque pop with a bluesy, soulful vocalist, but that's exactly the winning juxtaposition newcomers Cold Specks bring to the table on "Winter Solstice". That chanteuse in question is Al Spx, who leads a crackerjack ensemble that just tore it up at this year's SXSW. Look for their debut LP I Predict a Graceful Expulsion out May 21 on Mute, and you can stream some older tracks via their Facebook profile in the meantime. The older tracks tend to be in more of a folk blues vein, so it will be interesting to see if "Winter Solstice" is indicative of a new direction or just an unusually ornate take on Spx's roots music predilections.
(via Globe and Mail)