This is absolutely breathtaking. Chad Clark's teased this on social media and he was right to do that. The performance deserved the hype in advance.
Intended for the TV show "Better Call Saul", this Harry Nilsson cover stands on its own. With vocals from Erin M. Nelson and Devin Ocampo, the music suggests Wendy Carlos as Chad intended, sure, but also bits and pieces of Nineties His Name is Alive and the ornate moments from certain John Cale records in the Eighties. This is elegant, of course, but unsettling. There's something uneasy here that rubs weirdly against the beauty of Nilsson's melody, and that juxtaposition is a special thing indeed. The flip-side is the "Brown Eno" remix of "Instant Night", an instant classic from the band. I imagine the dancing you'll do to this would be like that of David Byrne in certain sequences of Stop Making Sense.
Beauty Pill is working on new material and the wait will be worth it, I know. However, if you need a fix, "Perfect Day" is here for you. The long-rumored solo record from Devin Ocampo is something you might be waiting for too. I am, but I'm happy that his vocals are here, along with those of Erin, and the arrangements from Chad, on this sublime bit of music. I really can't rave enough about this. Details below.
[Photo: Cameron Whitman]