Hangin' Out In 100b

I’m both shocked and dismayed to realize that I’ve yet to post about one of my very favorite – top 5, without a doubt – releases from last year. Cast Spells’ “Bright Works And Batons” EP came out last August and, although I immediately liked it – mostly because of David Davison’s captivating voice – it took me a little while to really love it. It snuck up on me over time, one track here and there on shuffle, until I noticed that it was what I most wanted to listen to first when I turned on my iPod. And since “Bright Works And Batons” is so very very wonderful, I’ve already checked (um, maybe more than once) the internets for other Cast Spells releases.

Nothing to find yet, other than a split EP with Good Old War (recommended) and some news that David Davison does plan further Cast Spells releases eventually. Because, something I didn’t know earlier, Cast Spells is actually a side project. I’d never heard of Maps & Atlases before, but being such a fan of Davison’s gorgeous vocals, I immediately downloaded their 2008 “You And Me And The Mountain” EP. Maps & Atlases is apparently described as ‘math rock’ – if that’s true, maybe math is rock is something I can get down with after all. But wait, there’s more – Davison is also part of the experimental Hey!Tonal. This one is most definitely a little more unconventional and may take a bit more listening to get into, but given how much I like Davison’s other bands, I’ll definitely give it a chance.

But anyway, back to Cast Spells. I love the whole EP, obviously, but my very favorite track – a song I just can’t stop listening to, and which never ever loses its gentle power – is “A Badge”. Stunning.