OXBOW, the experimental rock band known for their eclectic sound and provocative lyrics, have released their new single, “1000 Hours.” Featuring the legendary keyboardist Roger Joseph Manning, Jr., the track is a mesmerizing blend of haunting vocals, intricate instrumentation, and intimate beats.
Set to be included on their upcoming album “Love’s Holiday,” to be released on July 21st under the label Ipecac, “1000 Hours” promises to be a standout addition to the band’s already impressive discography.
Love’s Holiday represents a significant shift in their creative process and musical content. Inspired by guitarist Niko Wenner’s family, the album began with his compositions, with love as the main subject.
The album’s orchestration, featuring human voices as the primary addition, adds a rich and textured sonic landscape to the band’s signature brand of drama and conflict across its 10 tracks.
Love’s Holiday is a powerful testament to the beauty, complexity, and power of love, showing how it can inspire us to create something truly special.
About the track, vocalist and lyricist Eugene Robinson comments: “’1000 Hours’ for the OXBOW completist, 100 percent ties into our other song “1000,’ thematically in my mind. But filming the video, given that I just had surgery a few days before, felt very much like Mann’s ‘Death in Venice’ to me. You know where waiting to die never felt more beautiful, which really feels like the essence of love. Or at least one of them.”
Guitarist Niko Wenner adds: “’1000 Hours’ began life with the bright, extroverted feel you hear most, but inevitably the darker introspective mood of the coda and intro emerged. Both qualities are essential to Love’s Holiday. Roger (backing vocals), John (video director) and Joe Chiccarelli (co-producer of Love’s Holiday with Wenner) all did extraordinary work to heighten these emotions.”
In the span of ten years, OXBOW released “The Narcotic Story” followed by “Thin Black Duke” six years later, and now they have a new album titled “Love’s Holiday“. The band’s first single and music video from the album, “1000 Hours,” features Roger Joseph Manning Jr. (Jellyfish, Beck) and is just the beginning of a series of videos to come.
The album is considered an evolution in OXBOW’s musical journey as they aim to create a perfect ode to love.
The album, which features the acclaimed producer and mixer Joe Chiccarelli, was recorded at the renowned 25th Street Recording studio in Oakland, California, with engineering assistance from Gabriel Shepard. The album was then mixed at The Shack in Los Angeles, California, giving it a unique sound that captures the essence of OXBOW’s experimental and captivating rock style.
Love’s Holiday features music and lyrics by the talented duo Wenner and Robinson, who have created a compelling and thought-provoking collection of songs that explore themes of love, loss, and personal transformation.
The art and design for the album were masterfully created by Aaron Turner, known for his work with bands like Isis, Mamiffer, and Sumac, and adds a visual element that perfectly complements the music.
OXBOW consists of Dan Adams on electrical and acoustic bass, Greg Davis on drums and percussion, Eugene S. Robinson on vocals, and Niko Wenner on guitars and pianos. The band, which originated in San Francisco in 1988, has released seven studio albums to date. Their unique sound has earned them critical acclaim, with Pitchfork hailing them as the creators of “some of the most eccentric heavy music albums ever.”
Want more OXBOW? Be sure to check out the experimental noise rockish proto-punks BUÑUEL (feat. Oxbow’s Eugene S. Robinson).
