You may know Nels Cline from his work in such groups as Nels Cline Trio, The Nels Cline 4, or Nels Cline & Thurston Moore (or Wilco). His latest project sees the guitarist teaming up with keys player and romantic partner Yuka C. Honda of Cibo Matto (and, by extension, Plastic Ono Band, with whom Cline also played circa 2013) as CUP, an experimental pop duo which serves as the most playful project either member has been engaged with since Big Walnuts Yonder.
Today the pair are sharing the third single from their debut album, Spinning Creature, which is their lengthiest improv-like jam yet. “Berries” is a blippy electronic soundscape aided by constant guitar intervention and Cline’s repetition of “a tisket, a tasket” under his own breathy falsetto. Notably, nothing about berries.
“‘Berries’ represents an unusual methodology in that the music was written to set a short, somewhat whimsical poem to music,” Cline shares. “There was no intention in adding another food-referencing song to Yuka’s oeuvre, but on the surface it does seem to be about…berries! The jam-out that makes up most of the song after the initial theme is another excellent example of Yuka’s post-production magic, and—for all you nerds out there—the guitar looping stuff is a real-time performance. And for electronics nerds, the Tenorion track is all live also!”
Spinning Creature is out November 1 on Northern Spy Records. You can pre-order it here. All info regarding the duo’s NYC release show can be found here.
