People don’t like the term “super group”, and you get the feeling that Paul Banks would be especially weary of it seeing as he’s had so many different projects, but that’s more or less what Muzz is. The trio, featuring Banks (Interpol), Josh Kaufman (producer/multi-instrumentalist and one third of Bonny Light Horseman), and Matt Barrick (drummer of Jonathan Fire*Eater, The Walkmen, and Fleet Foxes’ touring band) have dropped a couple of tantalising tracks in recent weeks, and today announce their debut album. The record is called Muzz and comes out through Matador on June 5.
Talking about the sound of Muzz, Kaufman says:
“The music has this weird, super removed vibe but is also personal and emotional at the same time. If something felt natural in a simple way, we left it. I’d never heard Paul’s voice framed like that—a string section, horns, guitars—we know none of that is visionary but it felt classic and kind of classy.”
That certainly chimes with what we’ve heard in the genre-avoiding tracks “Black Tambourine” and “Bad Feeling”, and is furthered in today’s new offering “Red Western Sky”. You also get a sense of the trio’s dry humour in the video for “Red Western Sky”, which was shot at the American Treasure Tour Museum and directed by the guys themselves. Give it a listen and watch below.
Muzz’s debut album Muzz comes out June 5 on Matador (pre-order). You can follow Muzz on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
