Brooklyn'''s High Places have been slowly gathering plaudits and admirers in a way that seems downright old fashioned in a digital age where the process of marketing music has been greatly exposed. We've mostly conceded that the concept of "selling out" isn't so cut and dry, and that pushy PR e-mail bombs are a necessary evil. But that doesn't mean that limited edition vinyl singles and a constant stream of eclectically selected live dates isn't the more charming way to build a fan base. Of course, their awesomely odd and joyous songs shine no matter how they're delivered.
''"New Grace,''" High Places''' contribution to the Australian label Mistletone's holiday compilation, Mistletonia X-mas CD, comes as close to capturing their percussion heavy live sound as anything they'''ve yet released. Rob Barber pounds out a tropically taunting beat that partially resembles a synthetic ''"Iko Iko.''" Mary Pearson brings the sing-song sweetness she always does, impressively speeding along with the accelerated rhythm. ''"I can'''t believe I made it through those months of crushing gloom,''" she sings. Music this slyly enchanting makes it tough to picture them ever being depressed.
Download the song, and another from the comp. here.