Pick Of The Week: Blue Snakes by Canyons

I can honestly say that I like everything I’ve heard from Canyons, my most recent DFA/Modular turn-on. If I had to narrow it down though, and I do since this isn’t “pick(s)” of the week, it would be the very first I heard from them:  Blue Snakes.

This song is long. There’s no getting around it. But in the grand scheme it’s actually quite short if you think of it as a journey through a soothing slow-building house track. Back in the ’90s that would probably take a good 12-15 minutes.  However, in 7 minutes and 27 seconds, Canyons manages to touch on at least 3 of my favorite makings of classic Jack. First, there is the build. In the first minute of the track, you get the hollow tom tom disguised as a kick drum dueling with the chasing cymbals. And then the scream comes in to break it up and set the horns blowing. They even give us that weird echo-chanting shortly after the scream. I could do without the chanting but of course it’s all part of the glue. Oh!  I almost forgot the electronic handclap that brings you through the rest of the song, all the way to the end which explodes with a final scream and leaves you feeling a little bit haunted.

I’m not saying whip this out on a packed dance floor or anything, but it might be the perfect way to send a crowd home with something to think about.

-DirtyJean