How often do you hear a song that sounds like nothing you’ve ever heard before? And how often is that song actually good?
Mitski, a New York based songwriter/performer (the Singer/Songwriter label just doesn’t feel appropriate), is promoting the release of her second full-length album, due out in August of this year. Starting tonight, she’ll be releasing one music video a week, until all the tracks are out and the album goes online. And she’s sparing no time getting to the good stuff. “Goodbye, My Danish Sweetheart” relentlessly moves froward through its 2 minutes and eighteen seconds, ending before you even know what hit you. The song is led by a guitar and fender rhodes unison line that recalls late 60s jazz fusion, snaking in and out of key areas and opposing everything in its path. Mitski’s enigmatic voice sweetly sings a folk-based melody that sounds like it could have been adapted from an old lullaby, creating contrast with the angular guitar/keyboard line. Holding everything together is a steady pounding of drums, tambourines, handclaps, and a round bass. A minute and a half in, the track truly explodes, opening up for more drums, a trumpet counterpoint and ethereal vocals swirling in the background.