Surf curseNick Rattigan has packed a lot of ideas into his current double album Love + Pop—which was published over the last two years under his long-term leadership Current pleasures Nickname – but none of these ideas came close to the strong emotions or country touch of his upcoming successor, East, my love. Long before Love + Pop came about, the songwriter put those songs on hold while he worked on the previous record (which featured collaborations with Lil Yachty and Feardorian, as well as a Lil Peep cover and a tribute to Deftones), which was obviously made up of much more pleasant material to work with.
But we are all the happier East, my love saw the light of day when first single “California Rain” took the form of a sprawling country-rock ballad buoyed by barroom piano and a string section. Similarly, follow-up “They Shoot Horses” reflects somberly on doomed love with C&W leanings before swells into full-band drama. “In 2020, when California was on fire, I spent two weeks driving around the country in my car listening to The Byrds. Rodeo favorite”, Rattigan reveals about his main influence (well, maybe apart from Sydney Pollack). “I pulled over to the side of the road one night in Kansas, sat by the fire and wrote this song.”
Listen to the new song below and pre-order East, my love Here.
