Glenn Davis – “Fly Into A Great Calm” (Stereogum Premiere)

Glenn Davis – “Fly Into A Great Calm” (Stereogum Premiere)

For many years, Glenn Davis has been a driving force behind Way Yes, a quirky/depressive tropical electronic pop combo out of Columbus, and he’s recorded tracks for the likes of Saintseneca, the Sidekicks, and Counterfeit Madison. But before Way Yes, he used to perform solo acoustic house show gigs under the name I Woke Up, I Did The Same Thing, a project that helped him hone his unique songwriting perspective and unmistakable Kermit-esque vocal approach. Now Davis is going solo, and his upcoming Lost World EP finds him forging into new territory by bridging the gap between those two former projects.

Davis recorded the EP in late 2013, just as his marriage was disintegrating, and the turmoil associated with that event hangs heavy over all six tracks. Songs like “2 Vans,” “Bad Karma,” and “Marriage Asunder” filter deep, dark emotions into bright, airy electro-acoustic pop. It’s not always pretty, but wrestling with the pain was probably essential in order to work his way to serene EP closer “Fly Into A Great Calm,” perhaps the greatest song Davis has ever recorded. Reminiscent of Arthur Russell, it’s a gentle, minimal guitar lullaby infused with droning keyboard and a crisp hip-hop backbeat. And in keeping with its title, it truly does conjure the feeling of drifting skyward toward somewhere better. Davis hasn’t quite found peace yet: “How do people breathe with choices all around?” he sings. “I just wanna be found.” But this lovely track will probably help him there, and maybe it will help you too.

Lost World is out 3/25 digitally and on limited edition cassette via Scioto Records. Pre-order it here. Davis will play a release show on 3/24 in Columbus at Brothers Drake with Counterfeit Madison and Dolfish.

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