PREMIERE | Tadzio, "Pint of My Blood"

Tadzio captured in the glow of dramatic light; courtesy of Bob Boilen.

D.C. ensemble Tadzio continues to compose riveting and awe inspiring pieces of orchestration as they debut "Pint Of My Blood" off the upcoming double LP titled That Cold Grey Light. The core group of Ross Lipton & Shaina Kapeluck along with friends elaborate off their baroque chamber pop leanings to blend syntheses of mountainous rhythm structures and keys that ring like the cathedral bells of a decommissioned gothic chapel.

"Pint of My Blood" sweeps in like an orchestral psalm of reflective meditation that conjures images of green pastures and breathtaking panoramas. Tadzio conveys sentiments of pain, struggle, victory, agony and a triumphant level of ecstasy that takes flight like a gigantic bird soaring through the overcast stratosphere. "Blood" stands at that gateway entrance where the song and the self meet in a manner that is sublime and lends a thought to the interplay between the creative’s own dialogue with their inner muse. The arrangement builds, bellows and roars like a modern symphony designed for the stage as well as ear buds and headphones to occupy the amphitheater of our imagination.

Tadzio provided some insights on the inception of the new tune:

“Pint of my Blood” seemed to appear out of the ether. Benjamin was playing an old pump organ aimlessly and Shaina just started singing lyrics and the song came out fully formed. The lion’s share of That Cold Grey Light was recorded at Tadzio artist Patrice Poor’s studio while she was away in Prague learning puppetry. The production of “Pint on My Blood” came to fruition with a similar fluidity to the initial spark of writing, with Ben and Ross passing off various synth, beat and percussion ideas. The track builds and evolves subconsciously in a whirlwind of shimmering synths, glowing keyboards and gamelanesque percussion. The track was completed with violist Hannah Burris orchestrating the piece with mournful yet triumphant strings that bring a celestial emotionality to the piece.

Shaina Kapeluck elaborated further about the making of the piece:

What does it mean to have a song stuck in your head? Who is trapped, you or the song? For awhile last summer I felt haunted by the plaintive masculinities in country music, like a too-close hug that smells of whiskey sweat and has a subtle undertow; misery as a sexual incentive. I know this world too well, many of us do, but I couldn’t bear to put those songs aside. I’m still trying to build a space for myself within the high lonesome music I grew up loving. One way to do so is to build a protective carapace of other songs. This half-hearted banishing spell is one of those.

Tadzio’s new double album That Cold Grey Light will be available May 26 via BLIGHT. Records.