Flock Of Dimes – Like So Much Desire – Sub Pop

Jenn Wasner of Wye Oak has released Flock of Dimes – Like So Much Desire on the legendary Sub Pop records. She has been inspirational to me for being in Wye Oak and managing to create Flock of Dimes. Both musical efforts have been going strong. Wye Oak is Jenn Wasner on guitar, keyboards, bass and Andy Stack on drums (+ more). T hey make songs that would fool most people into thinking they were more than a two piece band.

Flock of Dimes started as a solo effort. On Like So Much Desire EP Wasner has created this EP while in quarantine isolation. Additional players helped remotely add their tracks from New York and Minnesota.

Listen here and if you have the means, support https://flockofdimes.bandcamp.com/album/like-so-much-desire

First track is a quietly reflective song entitled Spring In Winter. Gentle ivory tickling piano work and Jenn Wasner singing a haunting vocal melody. Feels like the sun melting the snow. Orchestra strings and synth effects lightly dribble like the ice water coming off the melting snow. This track is simply gorgeous but melancholy. I would expect nothing less from Jenn Wasner as she isolates. She comes off as a very intuitive songwriter I.M.O. and nails a feeling on its head.

On Like So Much Desire EP , Jenn gives the shell of the song what it needs which makes a good bit of her work just climb to heights that many fear to tread.

Next is the title track Like So Much Desire is slightly more upbeat with bright acoustic guitars and multi parted voice harmonies. It seems to go on right by even though it’s three minutes long. There’s a trickle of background instrumentation which pushes the soundscape farther back in space.

Again (For The First Time) feature even richer, multi – tiered vocal harmonies. Opens with a lush, string bend vibrato. The alternate picking on the acoustic guitar carries this tune along. Jenn’s vocals and the guitar interlude remind me of the Fleetwood Mac era where they left blues and started to explore the fruits of melody and harmony. In light syrup of course. Both projects are not over sweet and Jenn’s vocals are more akin to Christine McVie than Stevie Nicks

When the Body Does Not is a somber, yet pulsing song. I don’t know if there is cello, violin, or synth but it gives a little lift to the bass that persists through almost the whole composition.

Lastly, closing the EP , Thank You Friends and Strangers featuring sound of birds softly chirping . This beauty has snuck past me over five times. It seems to glide and sneak right off the EP leaving me wondering if I missed something. If the lyrics pertain to taking phone calls, more unhuman means of connection over face to face then I feel this track 100%. Feel it in my gut and my bones.

Jenn offers thanks which is for me a daily challenge to reckon with the state of the world. She mentions gentleness. This EP is proof that polarizing times will create great music. I hope that this music offers us the gratitude and thanks we need to make the change.