David Grubbs

Drag City drops the sixth and latest David Grubbs pop album, The Plain Where the Palace Stood, which finds David once again twining together the diverse strands of his vast interests. Working with Andrea Belfi (drums, electronics) and Stefano Pilia (guitar) - plus Attila Faravelli on electronics - creates a sympathetic groupthink that David expects more and greater from in the years to come. The welcome return of his distinctive overdriven guitar tone is a highlight of the record. And C. Spencer Yeh (Burning Star Core) plays some absolutely apeshit violin on two tracks. As in the days of Gastr del Sol, songs float in idiosyncratic, exceptionally unhurried arrangements. The Plain Where the Palace Stood features vocals on just four of the eleven tracks, yet the album as whole flows -- breathes -- effortlessly alongside the most acclaimed releases of his extended catalog, not to mention those of his contemporaries and kindred artists -- Oren Ambarchi, Scott Walker, Talk Talk, and Sunn O)))