Oryx & Crake – “Hold Hand For Dry Land” (audio) (premiere)

Recorded in the home of band leaders Ryan Peoples and Rebekah Goode-Peoples, the latest album by Atlanta’s Oryx & Crake has lofty ambitions sonically, taking great inspiration from such Canadian acts as Arcade Fire and Broken Social Scene. However, the aptly titled Marriage remains refreshingly grounded throughout, the band’s lavish orchestral pop meshing with exuberant new wave influences. A fine example is the late-album track “Hold Hand for Dry Land”, which locks itself into a mighty groove, Moog synths and fun vocal “whoo”s accentuating that lively mood.

“If ‘Marriage’ is like a sonnet in structure, the first ten tracks question commitment, the ups and downs and mental journey,” the Margaret Atwood-referencing band says. “‘Hold Hands for Dry Land’ begins our answering couplet at the end of the album. Our reasons for sticking with something or someone. What we know so far.”

Marriage will be released 25 September on Deer Bear Wolf.