PFARMERS - GUNNERA (CASS) (Ltd. 100)

Pfarmers is the new project from Danny Seim (Menomena, Lackthereof), Bryan Devendorf (The National), and Dave Nelson (David Byrne & St. Vincent, Sufjan Stevens).

Danny and Bryan have been friends since The National and Menomena toured together in the early 2000s. Their paths crossed several times since then, most recently backstage at a festival, where Bryan showed Danny some severly damaged, synth-affected drumbeats he had recorded with his friend Dave, sho was currently playing horns in David Byrne’s band. Shortly after, Pfarmers was born.

According to Seim, “The record is about a dream I had where I’m reluctantly accepting a fear of drowning by focusing on being reincarnated as a giant Gunnera plant, which thrive on the banks of rivers (specifically the Jordan River i.e. the Biblical promised land) after I paint myself gold and sink to the bottom like the El Dorado of South American folklore.”

Despite the notoriety of it’s members, Pfarmers sounds unlike anything they’ve produced before. The first track “Benthos” is a sprawling ambient piece comprised of looping, layered horns. The album then launches into a set of pop songs, reminiscent of Lackthereof (Danny’s solo project), as played by Kraftwerk. Devendorf’s trademark drum style is present, but here they’re filtered so heavily as to sound mechanical. Seim contributes layered vocals, and thick bass brooves, while Nelson provides complex spatial arrangements.

It’s a diverse record, switching swiftly between catchy pop songs and long instrumental breaks. It’s a rich and rewarding album, for those willing to dive in.

Limited to 100 hand-numbered purple cassettes w/ black imprint, with the whole album on the first side and instrumental album on the second side.

Ships on or before: 5/12/2015