Hazel Cills (3:03)

Where's my phone?

Guest or Musician (3:07)

Where did it go? Where's my phone? Where's my phone? Where did I leave? Where I go? Where I was. A woman always on the street Called me a ditch a ditch all my block she said I just want my mind to be a clear blast Clear blast With nothing in my head I thinking surely somebody will say save me at every turn I learn that no one will I just want my mind to be a clear blast Clear blast with nothing where did I leave? Where I go, Where I go where did it go? Where's my phone? Where's my phone? If not as like you punched a hole into tomorrow I would the whole all night long I'll stay out and turn My mind is like a clear glass Clear glass With nothing going on or like a bug floating in the melted ember Of a citronella can and go I will come until my mind is like a clear wax. Sam.

Robin Hilton (6:11)

I don't know. This feels like a really big swing to me.

Guest or Musician (6:14)

Yeah.

Hazel Cills (6:14)

I mean, I think the first thing that I thought when I heard it was, oh, Mitski is back in, like, rocker mode. Like, I feel like, you know, I've loved Mitzi for so long, followed her career for so long, and I feel like, you know, her kind of early breakout albums like Bury Me at Make Out Creek, were these, like, really intense, emotional, like, indie rock albums. You know, I think about her tiny desk where she was, like, screaming into the guitar and.

Guest or Musician (6:42)

Right.

Hazel Cills (6:43)

And then she, you know, Laurel Hell had all this, like, 80s new wave on it. And her last album, you know, the Land is Inhospitable and so are We. It was kind of like a country record, right. And so I'm like, oh, she is back in this mode that I haven't heard her be in in quite a while.

Robin Hilton (6:59)

Yeah, I think that's right. And I think it's sort of a Mitsky specialty though, you know, it's just like this huge sound. Very funny and also harrowing at the same time. I just love how she can take the most mundane little thing that's otherwise meaningless, like losing your phone and channel all of her anxieties and whatever else is kind of rattling around in her head through that mundane thing and then blow it up into this big anthemic stadium sized rock.

Hazel Cills (7:29)

I don't know, I have kind of struggled with it. Cause I'm like, you know, we know now that the album is kind of this like concept record about like a woman who is like very reclusive and kind of stuck in her house and is like maybe sort of unraveling. And I think within the context of that idea, I understand this song. But like as a first single I was like, this is a song about not knowing where your phone is and like wanting to find it.

Robin Hilton (7:56)

But that's the thing. It's not really about losing her phone. Her fumbling around looking for her phone is just the thing that's happening as all these ideas are swirling around in her head.

Guest or Musician (8:08)

Right.

Hazel Cills (8:08)

I know.

Robin Hilton (8:09)

She does this thing that's kind of interesting on this song. She self censors that little bleep that you hear in the song. Oh yes, that's intentional. And she says at one point that someone on the street called her a ditch. So she's clearly playing with that as well. So I kept trying to think like, well, why is she self censoring? And the only thing I can think of is that maybe it alludes to or conveys that idea of what's happening in her mind, that she has all of these thoughts and then she'll have an idea, but then she cuts herself off and she's on to the next thing. It's almost like she's in a state of near panic or having some sort of internal existential crisis. And it's all in there as she's trying to just find your phone.

Hazel Cills (8:55)

I think I just have to hear it within the context of the album. But I will say that I have thought about this song a lot since first hearing it. Like when I need to find my phone.

Robin Hilton (9:05)

Like what's usually happening when you're trying to find your phone? It's usually like, oh, I've got all this stuff I gotta do, all these things I've Gotta tend to.

Hazel Cills (9:15)

Yeah. It's not like needing the phone. It's like there is a. I need to connect with someone or I need to get information about something. And this little box is the thing that facilitates that. And if I can't find it, then I feel disconnected and I feel cut off from the rest of the world.

Robin Hilton (9:33)

Well, the album Nothing's About To Happen To Me, which also great title. Nothing's about to Happen to Me. It is out on February 27th.

Hazel Cills (9:44)

I wanted to play a song from a band that I was not super familiar with, but they're very on my radar now. It's this band from Vermont called Robber. Robber.

Robin Hilton (9:55)

Okay. I just assumed that this was like. Like some band that everybody knows about but me.

Hazel Cills (10:01)

You know what? I'm. I'm not in the know.

Guest or Musician (10:02)

Yeah.

Hazel Cills (10:03)

Like, you know, I put. I put on airs. Like, I know all music, but I don't.

Robin Hilton (10:09)

Well, it's very convincing because every time you're on, I think I gotta. I gotta elevate my game.

Hazel Cills (10:15)

I'm like, I found this band. They're from a private island. They're like on a random island out in the middle of the ocean.

Guest or Musician (10:22)

Yeah.

Hazel Cills (10:23)

No, but, yeah, this band, Robber.

Guest or Musician (10:25)

Robber.

Hazel Cills (10:26)

Like, the minute that I heard this song, I was like, oh, this feels like a band that is super up my alley. Why am I not already a super fan? And so I want to play a song that they recently put out titled the Sound It Made.

Guest or Musician (11:24)

We still don't know what we'll do. I was today the weather. Allergic to the sun Allergic to the sun Smile Plastic Bag Took a while.

Hazel Cills (12:16)

They don't brag Mischief Mask Vicious Task.

Guest or Musician (12:20)

Charlie Problem Vicious Man Revolution Quickest Dance Says a lot that we're with him. Sam.

Robin Hilton (13:17)

Well, this is awesome. I mean, it is. You said. I think it was in your wheelhouse. How are you not already a fan? I thought exactly the same thing.

Hazel Cills (13:24)

Yeah. I feel very attracted to music in the last few years that I think shares very similar characteristics. Like this Robber Robber song. It reminds me of the Kim Gordon album that came out a few years ago. The collective or the band. Cassie Crutt, who I've probably played on the show before, you know, Water from youm Eyes. This very kind of like discordant, intense instrumentals. Almost like industrialist. Like rock music. And then a vocalist who is very kind of coolly and calmly, not even singing, like, sing. Talking over it or in it or under that music. And I just feel like it's very much the sound of our times or like maybe it's the sound of my, my times, how I'm experiencing this time right now. And you know, this song is so like, when you really get into the nitty gritty of the lyrics, it's very weird and kind of hard to pin down. You know, there's lyrics about like feeling young and then feeling old and, you know, sentiments about, like not wanting to get stuck in a certain situation or place. And yeah, I heard the song and I was like, oh, this band is really ticking a lot of, I think.

Robin Hilton (14:42)

Part of the appeal, at least for me, it's all of that. And also there's like a lot of interesting contrast in it. I like, you talked about the singer's voice against all these frenetic beats and the chaos and everything, and she seems kind of like monotone or I actually hadn't clocked this as speak singing, but I hear it now that you mention it. But if you listen to the words she's singing about at least at one point, about just wanting to be with someone, like it's been a while and she just wants some time together, just the two of them. And if you read that without the music, you'd think, well, that's really sweet or that's really lovely or quiet and cozy and every. But the music suggests the exact opposite. Like another time she says, I hate the rain, hate the weather, but love the way it sounds. I'm allergic to the sun. And you know, you noted how this sort of is the sound of our times. I think thematically it kind of speaks to the times and I think a theme that is recurring across a lot of the stuff we're playing today. And that is the feeling of being overwhelmed.

Hazel Cills (15:43)

Yeah, I don't know. There's something about this song, the energy of this song, it feels like an adrenaline jolt. Like I feel like I'm speeding down a highway in a really fast car. And that is an energy that I want from music right now. And yeah, I just, I this band is definitely, definitely on my radar for this year. Their album is titled Two Wheels Move the Soul and it's out April 3rd.

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Robin Hilton (16:57)

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Robin Hilton (17:36)

Well, when we think of the albums that we know that are coming out and all the rumors about albums that we've been hearing about, one of the BL lips on my radar is labeled Father John Misty. Don't know if he has a new album coming, but we've been getting a handful of new songs from him. Josh Tillman, who is Father John Misty. The latest one is called the Old Law. This is a song that he started playing live a couple of years ago, and at the time he was calling it God's Trash. God's Trash. But it's gotten a proper release. Now it's been reworked a little bit and again it's called the Old Law.

Guest or Musician (18:28)

In my death mask and my mismatch Soon a pilate jock across the stage I met amusing gospel in the bathroom to mid its way to my red hilt brain. The drinks admired at lunch effectively Before I even rose to speak don't wanna disanoint the campaign But Jesus who lives on. Free hell A man's life God's trash There's no love but the old love, baby Petit for nothing dies step by strong comic cause it is hero in the summertime I. In the summertime. Sa. Guys. Oh, I left you for the honey Couldn't try you if I l. If I laugh. Life God's trash There's no love but the old love, baby oh nothing D Step Astro come because God said no I said twice Come on, big man won't you make me? Yes, you're up in the summertime. Years Here in the summertime. Yes, here in the summer child.

Robin Hilton (22:55)

I don't know. He always comes off as kind of a mad genius to me. But I'm very curious to hear what you think, because I'm well aware that Father John Misty turns a lot of people off. I think a lot of the things that I love about him are things that other people Hate or I may be kind of receiving all of his sort of antics a little differently than other people.

Hazel Cills (23:17)

Well, yeah, I was thinking about that. I mean, to be honest, I don't know if I've spent a ton of time with Father John Misty's music, but I don't find him to be the annoying, polarizing character that I feel like a lot of people find in me. But I think it's because, like, you say, mad genius. I feel like Father John Misty is an artist who is very aware of performing genius or ideas of genius. And, like, is sort of. I don't know. I feel like there's so many moments in his music where he's kind of fashioned himself as like, a mystic or someone who's, like, calling out aspects of culture. And I mean, in this song alone, he, like, mentions fast fashion and like, or something like that. But I liked this song. I don't know. I feel like it's very. It's very funny. Like, what is that line early on where he's like, I karate chop across the stage? Is that.

Robin Hilton (24:11)

I mean, I honestly have no idea what he's on about and.

Hazel Cills (24:15)

But that's part of the charm, right?

Robin Hilton (24:17)

I mean, it makes me want to just ponder it all. It doesn't put me off. Yeah. You know, like, I don't know that he takes a terribly positive view of humanity in this song. It feels like it's sort of about the folly of being human and kind of how pointless all of it seems. It's like just a bunch of nonsense. I do think, again, there's that sense of being overwhelmed and exhausted. If you go to Apple Music and you look at the little video of him that's looping on his landing page. Have you seen that?

Hazel Cills (24:50)

No, I haven't.

Robin Hilton (24:51)

It, to me, sort of sums up perfectly everything about him. It's Josh Tillman wearing these sunglasses like a rock star and otherwise kind of schlumpy, you know, wearing just like a, you know, rumpled shirt. And he's dancing around comically with these really exaggerated moves all over the city, like, in different little moments. It's funny, but incredibly ironic in an almost subversive way. And I think that that's the thing about him where people see that side of him and they don't see someone who's being funny or whimsical. They see someone who's just really cynical or even a little cold.

Guest or Musician (25:34)

Yeah.

Hazel Cills (25:35)

Which, I mean, are aspects and artists I often admire. But, yeah, I'm like. But even like that, it's like I Don't think of him as an artist who takes himself too seriously, but I think people take him very seriously. Maybe I'm a Father John Misty fan now. I don't know. I was kind of indifferent. Maybe I need to listen. Well, we don't know if there's a new album coming out, but I guess I'll have my ears open.

Robin Hilton (26:00)

Yeah. No word on a full album. It sure feels like he's gearing up for one. But we've got this song, a couple others out now. Again, this one, the Old Law. And if it sounds familiar to some fans, it's because it's an earlier song that he was calling God's trash before he gave it this official release.

Hazel Cills (26:20)

Well, I mentioned Kim Gordon earlier on the show when I was talking about Robber Robber, and she's actually back, which is great for me. I'm a huge fan. Really wrapped her album the Collective, which was quite polarizing when it came out a few years ago. But she's back and with a song that I feel like is a little different than what she's been making for the past years. The song is called Not Today Day.

Guest or Musician (27:13)

Sam. Can it be? It's true through you you're you I am oh, we're stuck like glue like clue There's a hole in my heart There's a hole in my heart As a hole as a hole Never mind the mess it's just my Dressing me all the way down Desire like a new one Never mind the mess is just my dress Not a mess but you with you wisdom I can live up make me down make me down where's my gun? Postmate where's my gun? Postmate all in yeah make it good make it feel so good Run away Run away. Never mind the mess is just my dress scraping the window. I can you.

Hazel Cills (30:18)

Yeah. I just feel like this is such a lighter, looser sound for her, at least in the past few years. You know, the Collective, which was, you know, her album that came out in 2024, was this really kind of like, heavy, like, trap. She was almost like rapping over trap beats. It was like very. Almost kind of scary. It was kind of a scary, chilling album at times. And this song Not Today is. It's so much softer and it's like. It's almost like a kraut rock song. It's like the sound of the guitars and, you know, she's kind of singing a bit more and. And, you know, I still feel that she is working in a very, you know, similarly, like, dark, poetic space. Lyrically, but when I heard the song, I was like, oh, I heard, like, a loosening of what she was doing on the collective.

Robin Hilton (31:16)

Yeah. A lot less abrasive, for sure. But I felt like it has a lot of that same kind of deadpan humor and some, you know, like, if you think of the song Bye Bye from the last album, where it's like this laundry list or a to do list or whatever it was. Right. That she turned into high art. Like, on this one, there's so many great lines, but my favorite is when she says, where's my gum? Postmate. The delivery service Postmate. Well, first of all, just the idea that she ordered gum to be delivered to her house and that this is like, this is the hill I'm gonna die on today. It is the sound of someone who's just not having it.

Guest or Musician (31:58)

Yeah.

Hazel Cills (31:59)

Just not having it. And, you know, there is this kind of a lot of contradiction in this song to me. And also, she released this, like, beautiful music video for the song where she's kind of, like, spinning around an empty house in this, like, gorgeous designer Rodarte dress. And, you know, there's so much of the song where she's talking about, like, you know, never mind the mess. It's just my dress. She's singing about having a hole in her heart, and. And it's this very. I mean, honestly, it feels like you could pair it with the Mitsky song that we played. There's some sort of, like, beautiful chaos that's happening here, and I hear a little bit of, like, an unraveling. But, you know, the Where's My Gum? Line is just such a classic example of, like, Kim's very kind of, like, sneaky social critique. I feel like there was a lot of many moments on the Collective where she was, you know, critiquing consumerism and violence and, you know, conservative American values. And I feel like that, to me, is a way of her slipping in that sensibility into this song.

Robin Hilton (33:05)

So that album, what is it called?

Hazel Cills (33:08)

It's titled Play Me, and it's out March 13th.

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Robin Hilton (33:46)

Well, I want to change it up with something totally different from everything else that we've been playing so far on the show. This is from the band Tanarawan. This is a West African band, one of the most prominent voices in desert blues music. And they've been doing it a long time, more than 40 years. Anyone who's listened to this show for any amount of time has heard us play their music and talk about them a lot. The album that they recently announced that they've got coming is called Hagar. And the song that I want to play from it is called Sagarat Asani and it features. Features the gorgeous voice of singer Sulafa Elias.

Guest or Musician (35:06)

I'll be sam. Me.

Robin Hilton (37:54)

I love everything this band does. Their music is always so transcendent, so meditative, so transformative. I think it always leaves me feeling better.

Hazel Cills (38:05)

I. I loved this song, like, the minute I put it on and I started to hear those guitars in conversation with each other, I was just like, oh, this is. This is insanely gorgeous.

Robin Hilton (38:15)

Yeah. And the singer sounds really good on it too. Sulafa Elias, who I did not know. And they don't always have a lot of women singing on their songs. It was actually a pretty special thing that they were able to bring her onto this recording. They said in a statement about the song that it's just because of where they live and a lot of the oppression that women live under in that region that it's very hard to find women singers to sing on songs. And either they're not allowed to sing or they're not allowed to go to school for music. And so it was really special that they got her on it. And it just sounds incredible. When she first comes in, I was like, oh, what is this? This is amazing.

Hazel Cills (38:52)

There's, like a lightness to it. You know, you said, you know, their music is kind of transcendent and, you know, makes you feel better after you listen to it. I certainly feel that way listening to it because it's just. You can just tell that there's so much love and care put into every moment of this song is what I hear.

Robin Hilton (39:12)

Well, it's also a very gorgeous song. Always happy to get new music from Tanarwyn. So the album Hogar H O G G A R is out on March 13th. But, Hazel, I know you've got one more song that you want to play and take us out on here.

Hazel Cills (39:28)

Yeah, I want to play a song from a Swedish band that I feel like hasn't gotten a lot of shine, hasn't gotten a lot of love, but. But I've been a fan of theirs for a minute now. It's a band called Vero.

Robin Hilton (39:42)

Was this a discovery for you? Because this is totally new to me.

Hazel Cills (39:46)

This was a discovery. They put out an album in 2022. It was their debut album called Unsoothing Interior. And I remembered hearing it and being like, okay, I'm into this. And they have a new album coming out and have been releasing some songs from it. And one of those songs is titled 100 calls.

Robin Hilton (40:06)

Well, we'll let this music play us out. And since we're not coming back, I'll just say, curious what you think about this. When I was listening to it, I kept getting the Pretenders, but like a very mumbly Chrissy Hine, like, there's something in it that I think has this sort of late 70s, early 80s sound. The guitars kind of chug along, but kind of jangly. I don't know.

Hazel Cills (40:29)

No, I think it's so funny that you say that, because I do love the Pretenders, and I didn't clock that. And now I'm like, oh, well, that makes sense. Cause I like them, too. But, yeah, I just think there is such a intense emotion in this song. But it grows. It's a very. It's a slow burner of a song, which is something that I always appreciate in music. And just like, a sense of, I don't know, relief by the end of it. There's like, this lyric in the song that I really love when the singer Julia Bowman sings, you know, my friends are happy that I came. I want to tell them that I made it. And the way that she sings that line, it's like, it's such a simple thing. Like, I. I made it like I came. And whether it's like a gathering or I'm in my mind, I imagined her, like, arriving at a party or something. And the way that she sings it, it's like it's the greatest thing that's.

Robin Hilton (41:19)

Ever happened or just made it in life. Like, I mean, yes.

Hazel Cills (41:22)

Yeah, true.

Guest or Musician (41:25)

Yeah.

Hazel Cills (41:25)

There's so many ways to read that line. And, yeah, this is a special, special song.

Robin Hilton (41:30)

All right. Well, thanks so much, Hazel. Always a great hang. Appreciate you bringing all these tunes and just having some time to decompress here a little bit.

Hazel Cills (41:39)

I love to play a little music. Love to play a little music. Love to chat about a little music. One of the great joys in life.

Robin Hilton (41:45)

Take care.

Guest or Musician (41:46)

Be well.

Hazel Cills (41:47)

Thank you. And you be well, too.

Robin Hilton (41:49)

For NPR Music, I'm Robin Hilton. It's All Songs Considered.

Guest or Musician (41:55)

My Something Bad. I want a solution and you can. Stop me I wanted something bad. I want solution and you can J. Box that's made of gold. Because you really got me there. I could speak up but now missing. Hunger calls and I'm already there. I'm the cause that I am touching it. Twice it all end all for you. Cross it all end all for you. Sam. I need to clear you off my path. My friends are happy that I came. I want to tell them that I yeah hundred calls that I. Hundred calls that I am touching. What it all end off for you. What's it all end all for you. It. Foreign.

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