Over the last few weeks SELF DEFENSE FAMILY, the ever-evolving musical collective fronted by vocalist Patrick Kindlon, have been diving deep into their vaults to share unreleased material from the prolific group’s decade-plus existence. Now the band have announced one more unearthed gem, the long-awaited next installment of their Island single series: Make Me A Pallet Fire On Your Floor / Local Clerics, the Australia 7″. The songs are streaming now on Bandcamp and will be available everywhere tomorrow, May 15th, via Run For Cover Records.
Preorder the Make Me A Pallet Fire On Your Floor / Local Clerics 7″.
Over the years Self Defense Family’s revolving lineup and improvisational writing process has led to the band often recording new music while on tour, putting the focus on capturing a specific moment between the current collaborators. The Island singles have been snapshots of the band in studios all over the world, from Jamaica, to Iceland, to Scotland, and now Australia. The songs on Make Me A Pallet Fire On Your Floor / Local Clerics are marked by a raw, spacious recording, winding guitar lines mixed with swirling organ, and of course Kindlon’s one-of-a-kind vocals and unflinching lyricism.
Kindlon discussed the release saying:
“Recorded on a tour of Australia a few years back. A fun session with Neil Thomason at Headgap Studios. He was recommended to us on the strength of his old band, Ricaine, but his resume as an engineer is just as impressive.
Our friend Amy Muir (of Fourteen Nights At Sea) blessed us with organ on this one. And that’s former Sydney resident/occasional promoter and now Massachusetts homeowner Jessie Maas at the beginning.
One of our members was left by their partner during the tour and the lyrics to ‘Pallet Fire’ reflect that circumstance. It was nice to sing about someone else’s problems for a change. ‘Local Clerics’ is about as concise and clearheaded as I’ve managed to be on the topic of small minds. I hadn’t revisited the song since the recording but hearing it now I believe it to be among our best.”
