A Troop of Echoes – “Small Fires” (audio) (Premiere)

It’s hard not to have one’s spirits lifted by a tune like “Small Fires”, the latest number from the Providence, Rhode Island-based A Troop of Echoes. Taking stylistics from the realm of indie rock but placing saxophone at the forefront (rather than, say, a Thom Yorke-aping lead vocalist), the band crafts tunes that are off-kilter yet affable, accessible yet ever-so-slightly perplexing. Such is the case with “Small Fires”, which utilizes guitar technique that anyone familiar with the indie rock playbook will recognize immediately — that is, until the song veers off in its own unique variations. The effervescent and creative mood of the tune couldn’t have arrived sooner; just as many across the globe are finally venturing outside after the icy winter months, this free-spirited piece is fine aural backing to a newly sunny walk outside.

The band tells PopMatters this about the track: “‘Small Fires’ actually came together pretty quickly. Towards the end of recording the album, our drummer Dan showed up with a bassline we really, really loved. We immediately latched on to it, and soon found it transformed into this propulsive wash of jagged Pixies-style guitar, haunting saxophone, and thunderous drum fills. It sounds lush and a little unhinged, which we think we think perfectly captures the spirit of the record.”

Following a successful Kickstarter campaign, A Troop of Echoes will release their sophomore full-length, The Longest Year on Record, this year on 19 May.