YOU know, just maybe he’s our saviour: Sub Pop’s microdosing piano auteur Father John Misty, whose 2017 track “Things It Would Have Been Helpful To Know Before The Revolution” and its brilliant accompanying animation looked like fantastically melodic future pastiche then, and maybe too close for comfort now, has just dropped “To S”, his first new material since 2018’s God’s Favorite Customer. Take a listen, it’s great; we’ve embedded it below.
“To S” will be accompanied by the equally mysteriously initialled “To R” in forming a double-A contribution to the Sub Pop singles club, Vol. 5, the compilation which is out on November 7th and which is available for pre-order over at Sub Pop right now.
Mr Tillman hasn’t been totally quiet this year: Off-Key In Hamburg, his first live album, was released in March; and Anthem +3, a collection of covers of songs by Leonard Cohen, Yusuf/Cat Stevens, and Link Wray was released in July. The two combined raised more than $100,000 for multiple causes including The Recording Academy’s MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund, CARE Action and Ground Game LA.
He’s also selling his infamous “Poem Zone” tee-shirt via his official webstore, with August proceeds from the store benefiting his touring crew.
“For S” is a proper slice of Father John beauty, propelling along on a sumptuous piano and assembled strings. “‘I had a dream and you were in it’, was all you had to say,” the mournful hook line. It’s expansive and gorgeous. Be thankful he’s among us.
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