by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
Just over a year removed from the release of Circles, Ithaca’s Grass Jaw, the solo project of Brendan Kuntz, is set to release their first of two new records, aptly titled OH NO. Due out September 28th, the project shows a knack for both heart-on-the-sleeve folk honesty and tangled dissonance, with an evolution that really brings the focus to the tension and the struggles of everyday existence. No one has it all figured out and Kuntz is keenly aware, launching himself into the world while trying to keep one foot moving in front of the next. OH NO often gets heavy, there’s a density to it, even Kuntz’s laid back vocals are pushed toward a point of aggression on several occasions, doubled for impact, yet always melodic.
Having shared “Things You Can’t Take Back” and “No Reminders,” we’re thrilled to premiere the next piece of the emotionally wrought album, the blistering “Enough (To Feel Bad About),” a song that feels personal but relatable. It’s bleak, reflecting on death, life lived, and how we spend our days. With backing vocals from Huan-Hua Chye and trombone from Steve Zielinski, this one really swells into a place of grandeur, the song steadily building upon monotonous twang and breezy sludge to open like a blossom of weighted reflection. Kuntz’s vocals and low pummeling drums lead the way into an adventurous composition, one that never ceases to grow and expand until it’s reached Spiritualized level orchestration.