The Motet’s latest album, All Day, is sure to get fans talking with its lead single, “79,” a retro-futurist blend of lavish funk and soul that takes listeners back to the funky past of the 70s and 80s, while fortifying its pastiche with decidedly modern elements. The band’s latest release, “Draccus,” is a hazy, funk-fueled track filled to the brim with lush sonic details and powerful lyricism, juxtaposing grim verses with cathartic, hopeful choruses.
“Draccus” embodies what The Motet have concocted with All Day, an album that will retain the infectious grooves and immaculate, layered arrangements that The Motet have become known for. But by recentering the listening experience around the playing and composition, All Day emphasizes the band’s instrumental mastery molded by two decades of shared musical chemistry. As a result, the new LP promises to showcase a world-class band at the peak of their powers, while simultaneously adding potent social themes that address modern political strife.
“Draccus” kicks off with a growling, deep bass and guitar groove that underlies the dystopian vocoder-synth vocals. The verse then transitions into the song’s cacophonous chorus, which imbues the track with synth and organ chords on top of ascending guitar melodies. Oscillating between politically-charged verses and optimistic instrumental hooks, “Draccus” speaks to the current social reality while offering a tone of hope and resilience in the face of existential doubt. The band sings, First eat up all the trees, look out I spit fire/The keeper of the keys, flames are getting higher/Draccus does what he wants, a gloomy, poetic message on the state of the world. But “Draccus” isn’t just despair – it relates to the socio-political upheaval of the past several years, and uses its arrangements and instrumentation to bring focus to the importance of music and art. For The Motet, society can prosper through community, and music can be that bridging catalyst.
Fans can hear “Draccus” and other All Day cuts on The Motet’s upcoming nationwide tour, kicking off with a two-night New Years run at Crystal Bay Casino in Lake Tahoe and stopping through cities like Salt Lake City, St. Louis, Columbus, and Honolulu. In addition to performing at Tucson’s Gem & Jam Festival, the band will also play a special, hometown doubleheader at Denver’s Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom, to celebrate both the LP release and the iconic venue’s 20th anniversary. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to see The Motet at the top of their game, and experience the power of music to bring people together and address the challenges of the world.