Canadian alt-country veterans The Sadies are known for their collaborations; their last album, 2014’s And the Conquering Sun was a 10-track collaboration with iconic Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie, and they have long served as Neko Case’s backing band and musical advisors. Other past co-conspirators have included Neil Young, Robyn Hitchock, John Doe, and Andre Williams.
“It’s Easy (Like Walking), the band’s first single toward their upcoming album Northern Passages, features a great new addition to the Sadies’ ranks: their former tourmate Kurt Vile, who contributes vocals. Reasonably, it could be a less reverb-drowned Violators track, but it’s a little more playful: “Hey little one up there just playing possum / Wake up to smoke ’em from whence you got ’em.” Vile’s vocal line is talkative and pleasantly percussive, a perfect counterpoint to the thick, REM-reminiscent wash of guitars.
Northern Passages comes out on February 10th through Yep Roc Records in the United States, and Dine Alone Records in Canada. Listen to the new track below, via Consequence of Sound.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this post listed that Dine Alone Records would be releasing the album in the U.S. as well, instead of Yep Roc Records.
