Ben Trickey / Brandon Schmitt – The Will Raines EP 7"

Regular price $7.50 Sale

"Ben Trickey’s new split with Ithaca, NY based singer-songwriter Brandon Schmitt dropped late last month with little fanfare. But don’t let that keep you from digging in to these stark and moody tracks. “Jo Anne” in particular continues Trickey’s penchant for narratives made incendiary by his idiosyncratic voice. Here his characteristic warble shifts expressive trills into a mourning keen. This vocal vibrato creates a sense of desperation in the song that is complimented by its barebones structure. Even when the band steps in, it’s extremely paired back, emphasizing the emotional turmoil of lines like “you could treat me bad / yeah you could treat me like that.” As the track progresses, Trickey weaves a complex narrative that churns, stammers, and bristles with lo-fi warmth. Not bad for a simple folk song, and even more masterful for a song that clocks in under the 2:40 mark." – Ethan Fogus