Back today with second single "Firewood" from The Clearwater Swimmers beautifully formed self-titled debut LP, out October 4 this year. "Firewood" is an eerie and melancholy song that highlights Sumner Bright's unique vocal tone and melodic style.

The other thing I really love about this track is the way Sumner's vocals and the band's churning rock music exist together, the gentleness of the vocal and the intensity of the backing music. They complement one another so well and give the song a kind of mystery.

Quote from the band: A song about the end of the world, really, and dread of catastrophes. It deals in the hanging-by-a-thread feeling of being frightened of your own environment, and also the relief that can be provided by somebody or something to cling on to.

A song about the end of the world, really, and dread of catastrophes. It deals in the hanging-by-a-thread feeling of being frightened of your own environment, and also the relief that can be provided by somebody or something to cling on to.

Songwriter Sumner Bright has released solo music under the moniker "twitches" for a while, but it's rare for me to get a debut record like this one from a band with a sound that feels so lived-in and established. One writer I shared it with early called it "a distorto-Americana Galaxie 500" and I can't get that out of my head so I'm leaving it here for you. To me it recalls Ghosts of the Great Highway era Sun Kil Moon - melancholy, mysterious, capable of blown out electric guitars that don't break the mood, poised and distinctive vocals singing melodies that always feel a little bit elusive, like they're just smoke curling up from a fire.