Song of the Day: exmagician - Job Done

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on The Morning Show with John Richards, is “Job Done” by exmagician from the 2016 album Scan The Blue on Bella Union.

exmagician - Job Done (MP3)

Belfast duo exmagician have always had a knack for layering and disguising sound. So it came as no surprise when the artwork on the first two releases for their new album Scan The Blue consisted of variantly sized circles creating a colored texture gradient. They are patterns that grasp your eye as a whole, and don't appear as individual bits until further inspection. It's very fitting artwork for a band who has mastered a sound that taps psych and shoegaze elements to make layer upon layer of instrumentation so cohesive that it's often challenging to pick out what is making the sounds you are listening to. Single "Job Done" displays this excellently. A jangling riff and humming organ are draped in soft tones and wrapped in a warm blanket of fuzz while they dance with urgent percussion. A subtle siren that could be either a guitar or a human voice ebbs and rises with the uplifting chorus, distinguishing itself from the sonic haze below. Its a track that is as expertly composed as it is catchy, a trend the album will surely follow.

exmagician is set to embark on a tour of the UK this spring, so keep your eyes on their Facebook and website for news on a possible U.S. tour to follow. In the meantime, check out their video for "Place Your Bets", another song from their upcoming album below.