Philly-based psych outfit Jeffrey Alexander & the Heavy Lidders have a new album on the way called New Earth Seed—an optimistic (and stratospheric) look at planet Earth’s end times in which another world is possible. The record, arriving September 22 via Arrowhawk Records, enlists a stacked guest list to bring this vision to life: in addition to the veteran musician Alexander (who played with Jackie-O Motherfucker, of whom Weyes Blood is also an alumni), Animal Collective’s Geologist, Ryan Jewell of Ryley Walker’s band, Sunwatchers’ Jeff Tobias, and Psychic Ills’ Brent Cordero all make appearances on the LP.
Meanwhile the first single from the record also features Movietone’s Kate Wright, as well as songwriter Chris Forsyth who also produced the record. “Star Power” is a zoned-out cosmic rocker envisioning a carefree end to the planet as space exploration becomes a more democratized endeavor. “The lyrics for this song came from my five-year-old, Moses Coltrane Alexander—they are obsessed with sunflowers,” Alexanders shares. “The song is a fantasy about our planet dying, and I put Moses into a spaceship to escape and they’re floating quietly in outer space looking back at Earth with plans to return once the world heals. Or, perhaps, starting somewhere else.”
Regarding the track’s visualizer, he adds: “Katrina Ohstrom, who made the video, also has a sunflower-obsessed child and tuned into the dreamy, minimal vibe right away. Sun-splashed and hazy. Similar also to my takeaway from Movietone’s vibe and it was a great honor for me to share vocals on this track with the fabulous Kate Wright.”
Check it out below—you can also hear the full version of the track (which clocks in at 11 minutes) and pre-order the record here.
