High Places – I Was Born – single review
High Places new single is called 'I Was Born'
After the hype that surrounded the initial appearance of some of High Places individual songs on the web, their 2008 compilation and release was somewhat mutely received. The fact that most of the songs were already in circulation meant that their effective re-release was unlikely to create seismologically significant aftershocks among those already raving about the band. Equally, their first, self-titled full length of new material from the end of the same year appeared, due to the official release of this old material, somewhat watered down.
After some time off and a move from Brooklyn to L.A., High Places are back and look ready to repeat the unorthodox releasing programme that probably thwarted their rise to prominence among the offbeat indie greats, planning to release this single I Was Born and one further before compiling them on a 12” and then releasing an album in spring 2010. Yet despite their apparent commercial incapability, High Places show once again on I Was Born that they belong among the most inventive, interesting, and listenable bands of today.
This second phase in the High Places’ history also marks a change in their sound. Gone are the Animal Collective backings, the hints at Asian influences, the tropical chimes and beats; now High Places sound distinctly colder. The opening bassoon line, played by one half of the group, Mary Pearson, and the icy entrance of a pulsing electric bass beat makes this High Places single sound more like minimalist Madonna; like The Knife or, more recently, The XX than the warped West Coast band of earlier recordings.
It’s absolutely brilliant – a perfect shift in sound that retains the basis of that home-made, spacey sound that High Places are known for, whilst sounding like an entirely different band. It remains to be seen if High Places fade once more into the background after their spring releases, but who cares if they do. They can be our little secret.
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