RATATAT (Mike Stroud) and WHITE FLIGHT (Justin Roelofs) have combined forces to create tunes straight out of the Milky Way with their new project, KUNZITE.
Their new full-length album BIRDS DON’T FLY dropped on Friday March 2.
The album takes listeners on an electronic-alternative exploration. Each song creates a relaxed, yet spacey atmosphere and features vibrant vocals, otherworldly soundscapes and lyrics that transport you to the skies as a bird gliding through the air, down to the waves of a swirling sea and up into space to see how zero gravity feels.
They’ve released 3 singles from the 11-track album, including “MONKS,” “VAPORS” and “PRESSURE.” These songs give listeners a well-rounded taste of the sounds on the album.
During their years spent as touring musicians, Stroud (RATATAT) and White (WHITE FLIGHT) struck up a friendship that eventually lead them to beginning this project together. These songs were recorded during multiple sessions all over the globe, from New York City and Hawaii to Iceland and India.
According to Stroud and White, the inspiration for this album came from the principles of Viktor Schauberger, who was an Austrian inventor, forest caretaker and philosopher. His quote, “birds don’t fly, they are flown,” indicates that migrating birds are carried by currents of air high up in the sky that allow them to save energy during long flights. Schauberger’s discoveries such as this one led to the design of anti-gravity technology. This quote directly influenced KUNZITE’S first album title, and after some thought, perhaps the idea is to relax and enjoy this ride that we call life.
Upon listening, you might find that the music of KUNZITE has a Broken Bells or Arcade Fire vibe, but with more electronic elements that give it an edge. Highlights would have to be “VAPORS,” “PRESSURE,” “AVALANCHE” and “MINERALS” as they all pack a punch with their catchy hooks and fresh beats.
You’ll find your ears picking up various unexpected sounds on the album such as what sounds like bagpipes at the ending of “MONKS,” flutes in “HONEYCOMB” and even water droplets in “PRESSURE” and “FROG CITY.” These are just some of the sounds that will be keeping you on your toes as you listen to the album. Tracks like “MONKS,” “BLADES,” “PRESSURE” and “BLUE ROOMS” have a reggae sound to them that adds to the relaxed feel.
This album is filled with memorable, danceable songs that you won’t be able to stop grooving to. You’ll want to turn up the volume no matter where you’re listening to it. The songs range from incredibly whimsical and dreamlike to in-your-face and undeniably real. All of these songs seem to share something in common—the words carry a reminder that life is ephemeral, so we must appreciate every moment we spend here and never hold ourselves back.
