BREATH & BURNING

'Breath & Burning' is the first single from Phish's (currently) upcoming album Big Boat, and was released as a promotional single. As most promos go, this single should be, for all intents and purposes, a song that encapsulates the general sound of the album to give you a taste of the upcoming experience.

If this rings true for Breath & Burning, then this is a good sign for what's to come. This song is more in the vein of early 90's Phish (counting Junta), with it's doodling pop rock sensibilities, except incorporating the more clean-cut lyrical and musical quality of the current style of the band. McConnell's soft bluesy keyboards coincide well with the more receded drumming of Fishman, the two band members who I've noticed have changed the most throughout the years. Gordon's thumping bass and Anastasio's acoustic sound very similar as to how they always have, so comforting territory there. As for vocals, Anastasio holds up, however on my wishlist is more acapella from the band- one of their many quirks I've grown fond of over the years.

Well signified by it's artsy cover with clouds and baby blue sky, this track can be described with such emotional adjectives like free and floating. This is definitely more in the territory of innocent, Fuego Phish than of the acid-fueled nonsensical band they were known to be two decades ago. Whether this is good or not completely depends on your feelings of the different eras the band has gone through. If their more recent stuff is to you liking, this definitely will be too.

Breath & Burning is a good sign of what's to come on this new album. I'd say for Phans or just easy listeners, keep your ears up. There might be some good stuff ahead.