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Hear 1939 Ensemble’s ‘Sad French Song,’ Moody Post-Rock From the Breeders’ Drummer

1939 Ensemble 'Sad French Song' Howl Bit Breeders

Last month SPIN premiered “Sabotage,” a propulsive slab of jazz-addled post-rock performed by go-to Breeders drummer Jose Medeles and Portland percussion teacher David Coniglio. With the Deal sisters having reunited their Last Splash lineup for the road, the so-called 1939 Ensemble has got a little extra time to stretch out.

The drum-and-vibes duo are releasing their debut album, Howl & Bite, on April 16 via Jealous Butcher, and we’ve now got a second instrumental to explore. “Sad French Song” is indeed a bit melancholy compared to its predecessor, but that doesn’t stop the Tortoise-influenced track from being beautiful. It’s rhythmic might and chiming tones are blackened by occasional swells of noise, giving the entire thing a compelling dynamism. We’re not sure how French it is, but the overcast tones are decidedly Oregonian in origin.