On his new single “Habits”, a simple upright bass pattern cuts through a stream of resonant jazz chords as Oakland-based composer Adam Hirsch, under the moniker Native Eloquence, sings “Feels like a revelation / I never really had it, a habit.” Hirsch’s compositions sound as if they’re being played through the cigarette smoke of a lounge with the ambient sensibilities of an opium den. “Habits” pushes droning saxophone tones into a deep pool of at-ease murmuring synthesizer and reverb. Set over tight electronic drums, the delayed notes repeat themselves faster and faster, eventually spiraling out of control. Unexpected instrumentation becomes the quicksand creeping up your leg as the textbook jazz chords are traded in for more complicated runs, tastefully juxtaposing styles in a way that’s both infinitely intriguing and thoughtful.
Native Eloquence’s debut LP Big Blue Nowhere will be released August 25 on Stereocure. You can stream “Habits” below.
Native Eloquence tour dates:
June
20 Cleveland, OH at Mahall’s
23 Durham, NC at The Carrack Gallery
24 Chapel Hill, NC at The Nightlight
25 Washington D.C. at House Show
26 Philadelphia, PA at The Pharmacy
30 Providence, RI at Aurora
July
02 Brooklyn, NY at Littlefield
07 Columbus, OH at The Brothers Drake
18 Bloomington, IL at Cometogetherspace
20 Madison, WI at Mickey’s
21 Iowa City, IA at Gabe’s Oasis
22 Omaha, NE at O’Leaver’s Pub
23 Fort Collins, CO at GNU Gallery
24-26 Denver, CO at UMS Festival
27 Colorado Springs at Flux Capacitor
30 Tacoma, WA at Funny Face House
31 Seattle, WA at The Vera Project
August
08 Oakland, CA at The Stork Club
