by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
Dark Tea is the dusty folk project of Brooklyn's Gary Canino, a vast departure from the tightly wound post-punk of his other band, Rips. Heavy on atmosphere and acoustic balladry, Canino blends a knack for breezy songwriting with lo-fi experimentation and twangy exuberance. It's front porch Americana from deep within the city, but his rattling sense of ramshackle pop tunes and smoky moonlit folk is as genuine as they come. Dark Tea released their self-titled debut back in March, a collection of songs that found Canino joined by a slew of friends and guest musicians. Ahead of an upcoming tour (dates below), the band are back with a new two song single, the Alexandria Savior assisted "Bright Flame" and it's B-side, "All I Want To Do".
"Bright Flame" (released back in October as a music video) is a warm and meditative duet between Canino and Savior, the pair's second collaboration, complimenting each other with lulling dream pop over a bed of slinky organs and reverberating guitars. It's a lush and impenetrable piece of heavenly bliss, focused with shimmering sunlight and almost gospel like progressions. Canino and Savior sound great trading verses, but they sound fantastic together, their harmonies subtle but elegant, relaxed yet powerful. "All I Want To Do" carries a similarly dreary swoon, opting to replace the soft whirring background with slowly sweeping strings. Like a cowboy's lullaby built for modern times, Canino's near whisper is steady and confident, nestled between the sparse rhythm and slow-drawn drifts of minor key twang.
Dark Tea's Bright Flame b/w All I Want To Do is out Tuesday, December 5th.
Tour Dates:
12/07 - Brooklyn, NY @ Alphaville w/ Flying Stars of Brooklyn, Lea Thomas
12/08 - Boston, MA @ Lilypad w/ Love-Birds, Germ House
12/09 - Northampton, MA @ Red Kross w/ Dump Him
12/10 - Philadelphia, PA @ PhilaMOCA w/ Joy Again, Ursula, Sitcom
12/11 - Washington, DC @ 453 w/ Cool People
12/13 - Brooklyn, NY @ Union Pool w/ Blush (record release)