Exclusive Song Premiere: ‘Water in the Eyes of Man,’ Death Songs

DEATH SONGS’ NICK DELFFS. PHOTO COURTESY OF INGRID RENAN

By creating their side project, Death Songs, Portlanders Nick and Nathan Delffs sought to make a record based on the spontaneity of stolen moments of creativity. The resulting seven-song, self-titled EP (available October 4 on Post-Consumer) bears the hallmarks of this approach, pairing African and flamenco-inspired rhythms with folksier stuff that celebrates, in the words of the songwriters, “both the joy and the sadness of being alive.”

Of course, calling your band Death Songs is a gloomy proposition in itself, and indeed there are moments on the group’s lead single, “Water In The Eyes Of Man,” where singer Nick speaks openly of mortality. But the track’s moodier themes are also betrayed by a jingle-jangle groove that’s positively life-affirming. Sounding every bit like a young Dylan or Nick Drake, Delffs (also of The Shaky Hands and the freak-folk outfit Castanets) sings atop rollicking guitar and harmonica line with the grace of an expert oarsman, steering the song to a brisk but satisfactory conclusion. It’s a ride certainly worth taking, and one we’re excited to share exclusively with you today.

FOR MORE ON DEATH SONGS, VISIT THEIR WEBSITE.