Raleigh-based act Zephyranthes released one of the year’s more impressive EPs so far, Zephyranthes III, this past month. Among my favorites on the release is “Alone in Stead,” a lively success with rousing structural and tonal shifts. Math-rock inspirations are apparent in the trickling guitars and fluctuation between paced and frantic percussion, with the vocal intensity adjusting accordingly. John Zorn’s Naked City is another reference point. The caffeinated burst at 01:20 feels alive, then seamlessly guiding into a more retrospective form seconds later. Clearly fond of dense and rhythmic sounds, the group – which formed in 2015 – continue to impress on their third EP, which you can stream below:
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“Alone in Stead” and other memorable tracks from this month can also be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of February 2019’ Spotify playlist.
The track is also featured in the genre-based, best-of Spotify compilation Indie Rock.
