Junip - Rope and Summit

The low-key, acoustic stylings of Sweden's Jose Gonzalez are what made him famous. So you wouldn't necessarily know what to expect when he formed a  trio called Junip back in 2005 and put out an EP called Black Refugee. Now 5 years since that debut release, you still can't really be sure what to expect, but you might have a better idea. Announcing the release of a new full length, set to drop for September of this year, the band has made the 4 track Rope and Summit EP  available for free over on their website. The title track "Rope and Summit" is hopefully a lovely harbinger. Tickling our expectations, the song displays Gonzalez innate aptitude for restraint, featuring his trademark nylon abilities, building slowly into a tightly bubbling soundscape of riffs and repeating vocals. Somehow he makes the transition more naturally than you would think. Combining elements of kraut-rock and jazz, this cut certainly has refreshingly uptempo and off-kilter vibe that seems to come with ease from the typically soporific Gonzalez. The second track, "Far Away", picks up where the first left off, displaying a new level of energy, but Junip doesn't disappoint the original fan base. The second half gently puts you back to sleep with the jammy "At the Doors" and lulling "Loops", proving that elements of Jose will always remain as they certainly should. Check out the title track and grab that EP now.

Junip - "Rope and Summit"