Colin Stetson Premiers "Judges" On NPR

posted in: Music News

Know what the most indie instrument is these days? Saxophone. Some of you might say electric triangle, but I bet I could get sax man Colin Stetson to agree with me. And he has the pedigree to back it up no less. Stetson has been kicking around for a few years, having earned a place in the album liner notes for folks like Tom Waits, TV on the Radio, Bon Iver, Kevin Devine and Yeasayer. On top of all that, he’s part of the touring band for Arcade Fire and the aforementioned Bon Iver. He’s also been tapped to open a few shows in Europe this year with none other than post-rock godheads Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Suffice it to say he’s a busy man.

To cap off a month that would stand as a banner year for most, Stetson is releasing his new album, New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges on Feb 22nd through Constellation Records.  Judges has already gotten the premiere treatment this month on NPR’s All Songs Considered. The new record features Stetson and his avant-garde sound, recorded live with no overdubs. His work is characterized by a layering of melodic lines, a stacking of melodies on top of each other. If that sounds too inpentrible for your uncultured ass, the record does feature guest vocals from Laurie Anderson and Shara Wooden of My Brightest Diamond. Judges was recorded by none other than Efrim Menuck of GSY!BE and, if that’s the kind of tidbit that gets you excited, then you have no reason not to check the record out. You can listen to excerpts from the album here or purchase it here.