In a world where most grassroots bands tend to get shrugged off by this rather picky bastard, Squirrelhouse is one of those names that I’ve put in the back of my head. The debut SPQR is, whilst not flawless, a very enjoyable piece of music (and one worth getting a proper review someday when I stop being lazy) and the band has some really great stylistic assets in their arsenal that lifts them a step above so many other groups.

The Texas band is now preparing to release their second album to the world, with no details announced bar a vague 2010 release date. A preview song, or a single or something, however has appeared. The new song titled Apocalypso carries all the Squirrelhouse trademarks that makes them so lovely: the lively, grooved-out bass that finds it seemingly impossible to ever stop moving around, a regular horn section backing the music and reminding us why more bands should use horns more often, a guitar that may not do anything technically impressive but manages to find the biggest hooks from its subtle patterns, as well as Paul Hanninen’s voice naturally. Apocalypso has an excellent uplifting stroll to it that would make it worth a listen all in itself but when about halfway through the song breaks down into a slow, nigh-anthemic instrumental portion gloriously led by the jubilant horn, the song’s real magic is unveiled. And then it jumps again into the upbeat stroll as if nothing ever happened.

Of course, my awkward 10-in-the-morning rambles are a very bad way to judge anything so listen to it yr’self, either via the mp3 at the bottom of this post or watch the cutely clipshowey video embedded below.

MP3: Apocalypso

MySpace

Tags: Squirrelhouse

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