The Key Studio Sessions: Grandchildren

When The Key launched just about five years ago, we had our sights pretty strongly locked on the West Philly avant-pop six-piece Grandchildren. They were the fearless sonic adventurers of Baltimore Avenue, a band that blended the audio collage sensibilities of Animal Collective with the live intensity of a really tight punk band. We’ve checked in several times in the years since, at shows, at SXSW and when they followed up their debut LP Everlasting with an excellent EP called The Golden Age.

But things have been a little quiet over in camp Grandchildren for a little while now, so we’re extremely psyched to have them breaking the silence this week with a Key Studio Sessions performance of two brand new songs, along with the first news about their third record and a show where you can hear the entire thing live.

Zuni is going to be released on August 28th via Ernest Jenning Record Company, and the songs we hear in their Key Session find Grandchildren blissfully in their zone. “Make It” has a sweet pop groove and an uplifting, shoutalong hook; the intense “Walking Dead” is more excitingly complex. Performed live with West Philadelphia Orchestra (check out the video below), it bursts to life with horns and layers of beats and instrumentation, not to mention an intense vocal delivery from band leader Aleks Martray.

Check out the songs and watch the video below, and see Grandchildren debut their new album in concert this Thursday, June 4th, at Underground Arts with West Philadelphia Orchestra. Tickets and more information on the show  can be found at the XPN Concert Calendar.