The crisp autumn tones of Shantih Shantih’s latest single frame the band’s evolution from meticulous worshippers of ‘60s pop into a more well-rounded group, willing to mold vintage twang into the realities of their own lives. The accompanying video, directed by Hannah Furgiuele, corresponds with today’s release of the group’s sophomore full length Someone, Anyone? [Wild Honey Records] and portrays a spookier side of the four-piece.
Not only do the chilly atmosphere and the cemetery setting dampen the band’s typically sunny sound, they expose a more obsessive side of Anna Barattin’s lyrics. Frames fade from day to night and the passage of time becomes a misty phenomenon lost in Barattin’s reverie. The spiraling minor chords and ringing guitars invoke the band’s desert rock aesthetic without completely erasing the sweet AM gold harmonies which defined their first LP, Winter in September. With the cheerful melodies buried, the band is free to dig into the shadows, making for a driving sound that cuts through the dreamy vocals.
Like many Shantih Shantih tracks, “Knocking” is a snapshot of a particular moment in a relationship, and with lyrics like “I can’t pick up everything you leave / I can’t be treated like a fool / the reason I’m in misery is always you” it’s clear that Barattin has had enough of the heartbreak, even if she’s only able to tell it to herself.
Watch/listen above.
Shantih Shantih will celebrate the release of Someone, Anyone? tonight at 529 with N.E.C. and Amen Sister. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is $10. 21+ to enter. A second release show goes down Tue., Oct. 1 on the Rooftop of the Georgia Theatre. Doors at 10 p.m. Admission is FREE. 18+ to enter.
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