New music from Nate Kinsella’s Birthmark

Stream the new single, “Fossil Record” now

When it comes to Kinsellas, Tim and Mike get all the attention. Well, at least in the press (who can say what their familial relations are like). But, those who only have ears for Joan Of Arc or Owen should take note of Tim and Mike’s cousin, Nate. And that’s not just because Nate’s been a part of many Joan Of Arc albums, or that he’s the drummer for Make Believe, another Tim-fronted group. 

It’s mostly because Birthmark, Nate’s psychedelic solo project since 2006, has the kind of off-kilter pop effervescence that’s a staple of the Kinsella family songbook. Just take a listen to “Fossil Record,” the new single from the forthcoming Birthmark album, Shaking Hands.

A woozy ditty that fuses back-masked instrumentation with some simple, powerful kick-drum action, “Fossil Record” manages to balance psychedelic experimentation and hook-filled songwriting for an engaging, serene listen. The song’s great strength is that, even as Nate sings gibberish about kissing spacesuit-wearing monkeys between the eyes, Nate’s execution is so sincerely compelling it’s hard not to like.

“Fossil Record” and its b-side, “Be However You Please,” is available to stream at Birthmark’s Bandcamp page, and will be available to purchase Nov. 16. Shaking Hands comes out Nov. 30 on Hidden Agenda.

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