Ball of Wax 41 Songs: Blizzard Swan – RedWhiteBlue (In the Future, We Will All Be Rich and Beautiful)

You would be forgiven for thinking Blizzard Swan was yet another new addition to our global coterie at first glance, but as soon as you hear that seductively sideways guitar, you know you’re in the capable sonic hands of our old friend Olie Eshleman. Outside of his work with the brilliant Corespondents (and all the other bands and artists he sits in with), Olie seems to be gradually amassing an LP’s worth of beautifully twisted soundscapes using the studio and whatever instruments he happens to have at hand, and as long as he keeps trickling out these little drops of genius I will keep putting them on Ball of Waxes. “RedWhiteBlue” plays out like the soundtrack to an animated film, spooling out variations on a theme for a while – in counterpoint with plenty of weird creaky sounds and some minimal percussion – before breaking down to a somber progression that gradually swells, backed with popping fireworks, then recedes into quivering feedback. I don’t know, I certainly want to see whatever film this is scoring – could somebody just go ahead and make it for me? You know, when you’re off the phone with Elvis Costello.