New York, NY (Top40 Charts) The indie band known as Farewell Friend have released their latest single, "Brother's Keeper." The track has been released concurrently with two B-side offerings, "One Week One Thought" and "They All Were Dancing." Together the trio comprise an approximate total listening time of approximately fifteen minutes, making this early release from Farewell Friend similar to an unofficial EP, but still bearing the price tag of a single.
Farewell Friend cite as main artistic influences Ryan Adams, Ray LaMontagne, Bon Iver, and Tom Petty. While their own sound has attributes which are evidently inspired by these, the ultimate Farewell Friend experience is unique. Their vocals lie somewhere between
Ryan Adams and Mumford and Sons, which is intuitive, but occasionally exhibit fleeting touches of
Liam Gallagher of
Oasis ("They All Were Dancing" in particular). A vibraphone lends "Brother's Keeper" colorful and uplifting undertones which soften the emotional tension, such creative instrumentation as one is unlikely to find on the next Magnetic Zeros record.
Asked to comment on the themes of their "Brother's Keeper" single, Farewell Friend write, "It speaks of death and avoiding giving in to our 'lesser angels.' We all have goals and expectations in life but we seldom hear songs about what we have to give up along the road of adventure. This single expresses the stagnation felt by being caught in environments or circumstances of our own choosing. It confesses fears of putting our hearts and hopes in danger while we want to chase after the things in which we believe."
In the end, the message seems a stoic one.
"Life's a gamble and some things are out of reach," they conclude.
The band's official bio describes Farewell Friend as "the recent collaboration of
Thomas Troyer,
David Wimbish, Michael Kuehn, and Virginia Wimmer. They endeavor to re-evaluate pop and folk sensibilities and dichotomies in order to tell stories that connect with people in new ways. This connection seeks to go past the raging emotive banter that much of indie-folk rock thrives on and instead share some of the more conflicting, elusive, yet more resolute facets of human experience. The aesthetic is organic and textures simplistic. We hope the sound never obscures the meaning."
"Brother's Keeper" by Farewell Friend is available online worldwide. Get in early.
Website: https://www.farewellfriendband.com
