“Our current reality [is] a huge mess that is systematically broken, but not entirely lost.” So say abracadabra, an Oakland-based duo you’ll be hearing more from very soon in the form of their second album, shapes & colors, which was announced a few weeks ago with the lead single “in a photo.” You’ve got about two months to wait for that LP (sorry), but in the meantime we’re getting another new single—and before you ask, no, it’s nothing to do with the band of the same name.
Following on from 2020’s self-titled debut, the thesis statement of Hannah Skelton and Chris Niles’s second album is borne out by the disco-tinged grooves of “talk talk,” a song all about differing views and the importance of listening. Per the band: “These days it seems all-too-easy to develop an opinion and then close yourself off from listening to and exchanging with others. ‘talk talk’ is brimming with hope for humanity and our ability to unite through our humanness and cultivate a genuine empathy and relationship via communication. It is the optimistic reminder to ourselves and the listener alike that we have the ability to do better even despite the pitfalls that modern technology presents.”
The single arrives with a Rainbow Tunnel–directed video, which is essentially a performance clip by a stand-in nine-piece band. It’s great fun in a way that mirrors the (real) band’s approach to making music. Watch it below, and expect shapes & colors out January 20 via Melodic (you can pre-order it here).
