I wasn’t familiar with Kirin J Callinan until last night when I saw him performing with the ever-shifting improvisational project FLRL. I realize I had been hugely missing out on this truly exceptional guitarist, singer and songwriter and I now find myself completely enveloped by his music.
Earlier this month, Callinan released his debut solo album, Embracism, via Siberia Records, Terrible Records and XL Recordings. Produced by The Presets’ Kim Moyes and mixed by Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor, Embracism is a record impossible to pigeon hole. It’s raw and refined, ferocious and delicate, weird and beautiful, timid and shameless.
The latest single off Embracism, ‘W II W’, is out today and it comes backed with B-side ‘Thighs’. Listen to both tracks below to see what Callinan can really throw down.