{"product_id":"downpilot-strange-horses","title":"Downpilot - Strange Horses","description":"\u003cp\u003eAfter two decades of making albums, \u003cstrong\u003eDownpilot\u003c\/strong\u003e's \u003cstrong\u003ePaul Hiraga\u003c\/strong\u003e wonders: why would a songwriter write songs if not to make sense of the oddest or most difficult situations we may find ourselves in? With this latest release, \u003cem\u003eStrange Horses\u003c\/em\u003e, he attempts to address the challenges of living in a time of such rapid and mystifying change and its effects upon relationships, the physical world itself, and the unfathomable terrain of the psyche.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHis eighth LP is an expertly crafted and truly affecting collection of musical meditations with soundscapes ranging from luscious guitar pop to intimate, studied Americana. Things kick off with a decisive twang in the compelling and existential opener, \u003cem\u003ePrimitive Skin\u003c\/em\u003e, and thus begins a sonic exploration of varied moods, themes, and subjects. Whether we’re in the territory of interpersonal complexity (\u003cem\u003eRose Paranoia\u003c\/em\u003e), changing landscapes (\u003cem\u003ePlayground\u003c\/em\u003e), or the destructive and redemptive force of nature (\u003cem\u003eSeptember Street\u003c\/em\u003e), we are on a ride to an undisclosed but intriguing destination. Each song is its own individual odyssey, and there is not a B-side in the bunch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIn the Air\u003c\/em\u003e, one of the album’s highlights, is a heartbreaking vignette about broken connections with a tender keyboard part that goes straight from the ear to the emotional core. The quirky rhythms and swirling synths of \u003cem\u003eYou Never Fly\u003c\/em\u003e suggest the aftermath of a skyborne mystery, and the breezy dreaminess of \u003cem\u003eLoose Change\u003c\/em\u003e serves up a tinge of Latin-laced sunshine pop. Violinist \u003cstrong\u003eMelinda Rice\u003c\/strong\u003e adds an appropriate ‘strangeness’ to the closing track, in a soaring and expansive finale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eStrange Horses\u003c\/em\u003e was written, recorded and mixed by Hiraga himself (vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass and drums) in Seattle and Whidbey Island, WA, and features appearances by longtime collaborators \u003cstrong\u003eAnne Marie Ruljancich\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cstrong\u003eThe Walkabouts\u003c\/strong\u003e), \u003cstrong\u003eLars Plogschties\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eTerry de Castro\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cstrong\u003eThe Wedding Present\u003c\/strong\u003e), \u003cstrong\u003eJeff Brown\u003c\/strong\u003e, and Melinda Rice, with newcomer \u003cstrong\u003eWill Thomas\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cstrong\u003eDive Index\u003c\/strong\u003e) providing synth textures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHiraga has never shied away from asking the ‘big’ questions, like ‘who are we?’ and ‘where did we come from?’, but with this latest Downpilot album he attempts to offer up some answers:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe are the strange horses. We come from another time.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"TAPETE","offers":[{"title":"Black Vinyl LP","offer_id":58659088859481,"sku":"SDZ-49212","price":33.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":58659088892249,"sku":"SDZ-49213","price":19.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0588\/3455\/0945\/files\/d-p.png?v=1784798633","url":"https:\/\/spindizzyrecords.com\/products\/downpilot-strange-horses","provider":"Spindizzy Dublin","version":"1.0","type":"link"}