I would have pulled
Your broken frame out from the egg.
I would have caught
The moonlight which within you’d bathe
Sandcastle is the nom-de-plume of Philadelphia artist Sam Kassel. With verses sharp as a rapier and a voice unmistakably his own, he’s woven an aura of allure, brimming with witticisms and uniquely arresting vocals. For the past decade, Kassel, with a sort of quaint alchemy, has crafted much of Sandcastle’s work alone.
From the vaults of yesteryear, Strange Mono graces the eager ear with Sandcastle’s 2012 gem, Wild Legend. This treasure, previously a whispered secret among the underground cognoscenti, is now shimmering forth in the fine grooves of vinyl and the ever-elusive realm of streaming.
Cooked up in south Philadelphia between 2011 and 2012, ‘Wild Legend‘ was Kassel’s dance with what one might generously call “conventional” pop. Yet, with whispers of Greek theatre, tales as old as time, and echoes of his reclusive days in an Arizona yurt, it’s anything but. Sans affectation, his words waltz with a Melville-like allure, nudging at profound truths tucked between lines.
This fresh edition tempts listeners with a delightful gem, Different Kind Of Paradise— a melody once whispered into the annals of history, now making its luminous debut. Kassel’s voice weaves and winds, conjuring the spirit of old-world troubadours, yet tinged with the idiosyncrasies of modern musings. Kassel romps audaciously across musical boundaries, sometimes even mid-breath, fashioning a sound that’s as unpredictable as it is captivating.
With this release comes a fascinating lyric video using imagery from Kenneth Anger’s “Eaux d’artifice.”
Watch below:
Wild Legend offers endless delight. And as you savour it on vinyl, make note that purchases through Strange Mono aid Philly’s finest charitable endeavors.
Hear “Different Kind of Paradise” and the rest of the album below and order it here.
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