Eel People (Matt Falkowski + Rex Thurstan) are back with three new songs, but only one of them is really an eel people song. no, it’s not complicated, don’t rush me bro, i will explain.
the last time we heard from Eel People, Rex Thurstan announced that phase 1.0 of the project was over, with a trilogy of albums completing its cycle. phase 2.0 in the Eel People Cinematic Universe is different — instead of being a solo outfit, longtime collaborator Matt Falkowski officially joined the band (similar to what we saw in the EP, Close Your Eyes). the new song, “just being ‘optimistic'” is out now, and while everything you loved about Eel People is still there (heavy emphasis on melody, adventurous production), Falkowski’s involvement kicks it up a notch. give it a listen, and you’ll see what i mean. the two’s voices mingle perfectly together. the album from which the single comes seems to have a set release date of january 2 (2020). click through the bandcamp link to hear the song and check for the new album!
and now we have a new addition to the Eel People cinematic universe. Scary Oliver is a new project of the Falkowski siblings (Emily and Matt) and Thurstan. they’ve debuted two new songs, and one of them impressively clocks in at over 10 minutes! the songs seem to be directed primarily by Emily, and the siblings’ voices harmonize perfectly with one another as they venture down lo-fi, expressionistic corridors. the massive “lullabye for a fever dream”, for example, is totally different than anything you’d expect from Eel People, as Emily’s songwriting instincts feel driven by a narrative rather than a traditional song structure. its structure and ambitiousness reminds me of David Bowie’s late-career single “Black Star”. i don’t believe that any formal release date has been announced for the subsequent album, but you can already hear the second-released track, “The Dust Off Queen”, below!
