Damon McMahon aka Amen Dunes is coming back with a new album called Death Jokes on 10 May and following lead single “Purple Land” we have a second teaser called “Boys”. Of the new song, he says:
“‘Boys’ is another interstitial character portrait, this time about outcasts, ‘bad kids,’ and seeing things from their side: ‘Everything you’ve done, it’s been done to you too.’”
“Boys” reportedly started life as a punk song written by McMahon while in Sicily, which is probably where it gets its youthful and scruffy subject matter from. Now in its final form it is a cosmic drifter with heavy bass stabs, skimming guitar, hovering electronics and ricocheting percussion. McMahon’s point of view is wise and loving, though this is as much about tone as it is the words themselves, which are delivered in lines that are scattered amongst the mosaic of sounds that make up the song. It’s a mood piece that feels like a scrap book that has been revisited over time with new perspectives and approaches added until it became this unique and arresting final piece.
Watch the video for “Boys”, directed by Steven Brahms, below or find the song on streamers.
Amen Dunes’ new album Death Jokes arrives on May 10 through Sub Pop (pre-order/save). You can find Amen Dunes on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
He’s also got these tour dates ahead:
(US shows on sale February 16th @ 10am local time)
Wed. May 8 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
Fri. May 10 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Bellwether
Wed. May 15 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel
Mon. Jul. 1 – Paris, FR @ Trabendo
Wed. Jul. 3 – Berlin, DE @ Gretchen
Fri. Jul. 5 – Roskilde, DK @ Roskilde Festival
Sun. Jul. 7 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
Tue. Jul. 9 – London, UK @ KOKO
