After a noticeably long absence, Los Angeles’ Great Northern has finally released a few preview tracks on Soundcloud from their forthcoming new album, Tremors.
It has been over four years since Great Northern has released an album. During that time, they have been performing sporadically and working on a new album, which even they admit on their Facebook page, is “taking for f#@*ing ever.” But patience is paying off, at least if these first tracks are any indication of what we can expect from the new record. Since the last album, the band has been a duo consisting of the founding members, Rachel Stolte and Solon Bixler, (formerly the guitarist of 30 Seconds to Mars). Their sound is full and rich, and though they do share vocal duties, Stolte’s powerful and reedy voice usually takes the lead, as she does in “Into the Flood”.
“Ripple” is a little more unusual for the band, though their signature lush production and melancholy hooks are still evident. Bixler takes vocal lead and the melody is punctuated by Stolte’s powerhouse punches in the choruses.
“Skin of Our Teeth” is an big, anthemic number that really shows off the duo’s strong vocal harmonies. Bixler’s jangly guitar opens the song and pushes it along, at times becoming a call and response to Stolte’s forceful cries of “Take What You Want” & “Hey! Hey! Hey!” This is an energetic song that is sure to get you jumping up out of your seat.
For information and updates about the new record, keep an eye out on Facebook and Twitter. According to the band, the release date for the album is still TBD. Let’s hope the wait isn’t too much longer. In the meantime, they also left a cover of Radiohead’s High & Dry on Soundcloud – “just for fun.”