It isn’t often that I come across new music with such an overwhelming pull of nostalgia that I am compelled to stop what I am doing, find a quiet place, and consume it with an openness and willingness that only my 16-year-old self could muster. Upon hearing this new offering from the duo Poor Neighbors, I found myself doing exactly that. The sounds and movement of this track bring me right back to those shitty winter afternoons in Montana where I spent countless hours staring at my bedroom ceiling, considering the depth of love and my perception of existence. I got caught up in myself a lot, which is a part of the message Joshua Morrison and Jon Wesley (St. Kilda, Boots to The Moon) are attempting to convey with their new song “Tolle.”
“Tolle” is a beautifully thoughtful piece of music crafted in the style and feel of the Pacific Northwest. Percussive synth, spacious drums tracks, and seriously catchy guitar hooks set the stage for Morrison to deliver his own important perception of human existence. And guess what . . . It doesn’t look good for us, folks. “All the petty pre-occupations consuming my selfish heart, when seen in the light of destruction, it’s nothing.” Morrison provides the somber reminder that while we look inward, the rest of the world continues to move around us. Sometimes this movement is violent and destructive. Sometimes we are even complicit by not paying attention. Every time this happens, it is a huge bummer. This concept should be embraced if we are can every hope to effectively be conservationists and help heal the damage we have done to our environment. Be sure to keep an eye out for Tolle and for more songs to be released by Poor Neighbors later this year, and make sure to come out to the Ball of Wax 53 show at Substation this Friday to see them live.