The solo project of singer-songwriter Denver Dalley, Statistics fuses subtle electronic rhythms with indie rock theatricality. Having grown up in Omaha with fellow musician Conor Oberst, the two joined with Ian McElroy and Matt Baum to form indie darlings Desaparecidos. But when Oberst’s Bright Eyes moniker became his focus rather than Desaparecidos, the band’s members took time to focus on other musical endeavors. Out of this tumultuous time, Statistics was born, and Dalley’s intimate, emotionally raw narratives found a suitable home under this new outlet. His self-titled debut EP was released in 2003, with LP’s following in ’04 and ’05. But by this time, the rigors of solo work had taken their toll, but Dalley found musical solace playing alongside other acts–such as The Watson Twins and Har Mar Superstar–allowing him to be come whatever these acts needed him to be and refining his own sense of musical self in the process. And it was here that the seeds of Peninsula were first given root, a record eight years in the making but feeling neither dated nor overly planned out. Drawing on the pop experimentalism that marked his debut EP, Dalley has come away with his most accessible and thoughtful collection of songs in close to a decade.
The latest offering from Statistics’ upcoming record comes to us in the form of “Menu Screen,” a softly affecting song with Dalley’s breathy vocals and subtle electronic beats overlapping his shimmering synthwork. And despite the synthetic percussion, the track feels engaging and exudes a warmth that seems to wrap around the listener like a well-worn mantle. If his punk-infused work with Desparicados was him letting his inner child run wild, “Menu Screen” and Peninsula show a more matured and emotionally vested Dalley, and the resulting chromatic beauty feels spirited and anxious to show the listener exactly what it can do.
Beats Per Minute is pleased to premiere the latest song “Menu Screen” from Statistics’ upcoming record Peninsula.
