aaamusic | On 15, Jun 2011

OTHER LIVES
Album: Tamer Animals
Released: 29th August 2011
Label: PIAS

At the crossroads of U.S. 177 and State Highway 51, in the midst of a vast Mid-western plain, sits Stillwater, Oklahoma, unlikely hometown to a remarkable new band Other Lives and its gifted singer/composer and multi-instrumentalist bandleader, Jesse Tabish. Tamer Animals – their first album to hit the UK — is set for release on 29th August through Play it Again Sam (PIAS). Available on vinyl, CD and download, Tamer Animals fires an opening salvo of ambitious scope: densely textured and uncompromisingly sophisticated, yet instantly appealing and alluringly mysterious.
Produced by the band themselves and mixed by Beck’s long-time drummer Joey Waronker, Tamer Animals was written and recorded at Other Lives’ own studio over a period of sixteen months. Interweaving layer upon layer of intricately winding and pulsing orchestrations, Tamer Animals’ eleven tracks enfold listeners in a bounteous panoply of melodies and textures reminiscent of Brian Wilson’s daring Smile period.

The term “chamber-pop” readily springs to mind, but Other Lives’ music invokes everything from Philip Glass’ dazzling minimalism to Morricone’s dark epic sweep. The first single off Tamer Animals, “For 12″ especially exemplifies the latter: its galloping rhythms conjure a feeling of uneasy expansiveness, a timeless aural sublimity of The Great Plains of the Old West, with nary a saddle or spur in sight. “For 12″ has already gotten the thumb’s up from Radiohead and the band also counts Zane Lowe, Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne and Bad Seed Jim Sclavunos amongst their burgeoning ranks of avid fans. View the new For 12 video

Underpinning Tamer Animals’ rich palette of sounds is the band’s native Dust Bowl austerity: a stark yet coolly elegant beauty that mirrors the landscape that surrounds them. “You go five minutes outside of Stillwater and it’s just untouched plains,” muses Jesse. “I think that has affected me subconsciously”

With dates opening for The National and The Decemberists fresh under their belts, and already on a 6 Music playlist as well as getting support from Radio 1, Other Lives UK live debut, scheduled for late August / early September, will soon be delivering on its smoldering promise.

‘Tamer Animals’ tracklisting

Dark Horse / As I Lay My Head Down / For 12 / Tamer Animals / Dust Bowl III / Weather / Old Statues / Woodwind / Desert / Landforms / Heading East.