We’ve got some incredibly exciting news. Exitmusic has a brand new full-length and it’s out May 22nd. Titled Passage, it’s the much anticipated followup to their debut EP, From Silence. Earlier this morning, KEXP premiered the title track, saying “what defines Exitmusic is their epic songwriting style that is 100% evident in their new single ‘Passage.’”

Recorded at Rare Book Room in Brooklyn with mixer Nicholas Vernhes (Dirty Projectors, Deerhunter), Church and Palladino, along with the assistance of new bandmates drummer Dru Prentiss and engineer Nicholas X, built on the chilling, beautiful aesthetic they had created as a duo when recording at home. The result is a sound that is more powerful and more nuanced, covering broad oceans of emotional terrain.

Opener and title track “Passage” is like watching a great shifting of tides through rapid time-lapse photography, introducing new dynamics in one magnificent breath. It is a statement of intent that tears down the Victorian boudoir gauze found on previous efforts. The ghosts are still piercing the veil, but now they’re throwing chairs. The song begins gently, with candlelight piano plucks, distant explosions on the horizon, aching breaths and moans. But in moments, the oceans swell and lurch as it detonates into a shower of brilliant shrapnel.

Passage is a long time in the making, and certainly worth the wait. Listen and download the title track below.

Exitmusic kicks off their tour Tuesday, February 28th at Mercury Lounge in New York. See full list of dates HERE.

“But Maraqopa signifies a shift from an album-length exercise in osmosis to a set of songs made to excite, and Jurado seems to know this….the man once dubbed “the Raymond Chandler of folk” for his spare tales of other people’s anguish is stepping into the spotlight-baiting critics, even!-while fingers snap and women swoon.”
-A.V. Club

“Damien Jurado’s latest is a fantastic maze.” -Tiny Mix Tapes

“Even after 12 full-length albums, Jurado is still finding ways to grow musically. While continuing to deliver the intimate songs of hopeless love and regret for his longtime fans, he stills finds ways to surprise as he works with his magician-like collaborator. Maraqopa lingers long after the last track informs us that, ‘We are all mountains still asleep.’”-American Songwriter

“Jurado’s songwriting is comfortable without being lazy; tunes consist of deep lyrics with a few strums and a catchy melody, sometimes with an unexpected chord change forcing the song into a peculiar/pretty zone. And his tenor voice remains a world unto itself, distant and glowing.”-Seattle Times

Don’t wait to hear the new record. When you pre-order, you’ll receive an instant download of the entire album. Get your copy HERE.

Our good friend and Secretly Canadian alum Frida Hyvonen has a new single, “Terribly Dark,” which was released yesterday. Watch the video here and stream the song over on Soundcloud. Frida’s next album To the Soul, is out April 18 via RMV Grammofon.

In the week leading up to Damien Jurado’s record release show, The Seattle Times shares quite a special series comprised of certain artists covering songs from the expansive Jurado catalog. All artists are tied to Seattle in some way, which only makes sense as they take on songs from the city’s own “folk boom godfather,” whose influence has proven to reach far and wide.

First we have The Head and The Heart’s Jon Russell covering “Beacon Hill,” followed by local soul band, Pickwick, doing “I am the Greatest of All Liars.” Next, Al James from Dolerean does a mighty fine job in his recreation of “Cloudy Shoes” and last, but certainly not least, Sunny Day Real Estate’s Jeremy Enigk finishes up with “Last Rights.” Each track is available for streaming at the artists links above.

Damien kicks off his tour with a record release show at The Neptune this Friday, February 17th. Full list of tour dates HERE. The new record, Maraqopa, comes out February 21st. Pick it up at one of Damien’s shows or you can still pre-order it now and receive at least one free (exclusive) 7-inch.