Califone Announces Quicksand/Cradlesnakes Deluxe Reissue Coming March 17th via Dead Oceans, Shares Track “Slowness”

Califone’s second full-length release, 2003’s Quicksand/Cradlesnakes, is possibly the most beloved of Tim Rutili’s seminal works. It was with this record that Califone’s thoughtful, off-kilter sound became more fully realized, woven together with strings of country blues, AM-radio pop, peculiar sounds and percussion, and opaque-but-visual lyricism. Rutili is generous with the space in his songs, allowing the collaborative players to come into the studio and occupy their own pockets of sound.

The end result is a rich, textured record, fleshed out by multi-instrumentalists Jim Becker and Joe Adamik, while longtime Rutili collaborator Ben Massarella holds down percussion, a drummer Rutili notes could “build a rhythm track out of a squeaky straw and a cup of ice.”

Ultimately, though, the brilliance of Quicksand/Cradlesnakes comes down to Rutili’s songwriting – “Vampiring Again” is easily the most pop song Rutili’s ever written (he likens it to the Smiths), rollicking, riff-heavy track “Your Golden Ass” serves as a study in falling apart, while “Michigan Girls” endures as a staple at Califone’s shows. It’s the sound of a band led by the vision of a leader, but one who offers sonic flexibility.

After years of being unavailable on vinyl, the forthcoming Quicksand/Cradlesnakes reissue will be out on March 17th via Dead Oceans, and will include eight bonus tracks. A link to listen to “Slowness,” as well as Tim Rutili tour dates, can be found below.