Cass McCombs has shared “Estrella,” a new song off of his ninth full-length album, Tip of the Sphere, due February 8th via ANTI- Records. Following lead single, “Sleeping Volcanoes,” “Estrella” presents a dreamy narrative, woven with McComb’s strong apt for storytelling and wonder of words, music, and dreams. In this tribute to the renowned Latino artist Juan Gabriel, he sings “I was roused and aroused // only you can rouse me in that way // like music, language was blown out // like pulling down the sea // like plunging into the stars // Estrella.”
Last month, while in Utrecht playing the Le Guess Who? Festival, McCombs filmed performances of both “Estrella” and “Sleeping Volcanoes” with La Blogotheque‘s Take Away Show at the Dutch National Railway Museum. Filmed in different rooms with alternate setups, the recordings feature McCombs on electric guitar backed by a simple but striking piano and upright bass accompaniment.
McCombs took a different approach for recording Tip of the Sphere than previous endeavors, instead recording swiftly and with a sense of purpose at Shahzad Ismaily’s Figure 8 studios in Brooklyn. As a result, a confidence emerged that heightens McComb’s sound – the rock songs have more fervor and the ballads are more beautiful; the sounds of jazz and Latin music creep in through the back window. Engineered by Sam Owens (aka Sam Evian), Tip of the Spherefeatures the core band of McCombs (guitar, vocals), Dan Horne (co-producer, bass), Otto Hauser (drums) and Frank LoCrasto (piano, organ, and more), plus a range of guests.
McCombs will tour North America next spring. Several new dates have been added to the previously announced tour. Tickets for the newly announced shows will be on sale December 13 at noon local time at http://cassmccombs.com/.
Cass McCombs Tour Dates:
(new dates in bold)
Mon. March 4 – Washington, DC @ Union Stage *
Tue. March 5 – Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live *
Thu. March 7 – Brooklyn, NY @ Murrmr
Fri. March 8 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom *
Sat. March 9 – Boston, MA @ The Sinclair *
Mon. March 11 – Toronto, ON @ The Horsehoe *
Tue. March 12 – Cleveland, OH @ The Beachland *
Thu. March 14 – Nashville, TN @ The Exit-In *
Fri. March 15 – Indianapolis, IN @ HiFi *
Sat. March 16 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall *
Sun. March 17 – Milwaukee, WI @ The BackRoom at Collectivo *
Mon. March 18 – St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club *
Wed. March 20 – Boulder, CO @ Fox Theatre
Sat. March 23 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The State Room
Mon. March 25 – Vancouver, BC @ St. James
Tue. March 26 – Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey
Wed. March 27 – Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theater
Fri. March 29 – Sacramento, CA @ Harlow’s
Sat. March 30 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre
Thu. April 4 – Santa Cruz, CA @ Moe’s
Fri. April 5 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
* = with Sam Evian
