Song of the Day: Korallreven - Second Comin'

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Morning Show with John Richards, is “Second Comin'” by Korallreven from the 2014 album Second Comin' on Cascine.

Korallreven - Second Comin' (MP3)

With significant influence from both post-2000 electronic music and pop music, Marcus Joons and Daniel Tjäder construct dreamy, abstract dancefloors as Korallreven. The Swedish duo (whose name means "coral reef") began releasing intermittent singles in 2009 to acclaim in electronic circles, sporadically releasing music until the 2011 arrival of their full length debut, the appropriately-titled An Album by Korallreven, which collected their previous singles and collaborations with vocalists Victoria Bergsman and Julianna Barwick. Another three years passed before the release of their next album, the also-appropriately-titled Second Comin', which features collaborations with fellow Swedes China Yggstrom and I Break Horses' Maria Linden. Named in part after The Stone Roses' famously disastrous sophomore effort, Second Comin's primarily spiritual themes run through both the lyrics and the aqueous, floating tones of the songs. Accordingly, the album's title track is a curious beast, subtly moving an array of textures in and out in an unpredictable and fascinating manner. At first, it's somewhat bewildering to hear manipulated vocal samples over scattered bursts of metallic synths, but by the time it all comes together in the song's final stretch, the controlled chaos makes perfect sense. If "Second Comin'" really is the soundtrack the the rapture, then the next life is going to be one hell of a glorious space disco.

Korallreven don't have any North American tour dates lined up at the moment, but keep an eye on their Facebook and website for any announcements. Below, watch the video for their 2011 track "As Young As Yesterday".