Big Tusk's New Flood EP

At their energetic Eclectic show in September, the Wes-alumni trio Big Tusk—comprised of Sam Long, Howe Pearson, and David Thompson—played a number of their new Flood  EP’s then-unreleased songs.  While the live energy and personality of these great guys is experienced from afar on record, Flood makes up for it with an engaging attention to sonic detail. Thompson’s keyboard tone ranges from a romping carnival organ on “Hammer Lights Up” to an icy, grand piano on “Flood.” The EP’s drum production, while overbearing at some points, provides interesting texture to tracks. “Slouch,” the longest and most memorable track on the EP, is just as fantastic on record as when Big Tusk performed it live in September. With rich vocal harmonies, creative composition, and a shifting time signature makes, “Slouch” showcases Big Tusk’s dexterous musicality and songwriting. “Carrot/Stick” and “Flood” are darkly atmospheric and find Big Tusk moving towards a more experimental, spaced-out sound. Big Tusk’s new Flood EP is a polished, finely-wrought statement that moves the band in a promising direction; give it a listen below.