Opal Eskar is the latest convergence of some of Philadelphia’s
busiest indie musicians.
After releasing a one-off single “Sunlight Is Breakin’ Out” (“Dreamy,” said NPR-affiliate WXPN) as a
trio comprised of Karl Blau
(vocals), Heyward Howkins (vocals,
guitar), and Chet Delcampo (vocals,
guitar, bass, keys) last summer, Opal
Eskar is now a five-piece featuring two more members of the Philly fabric: Charlie Hall and Robbie Bennett of The War on
Drugs.
Opal Eskar will release its debut self-titled EP on May 19, 2023 via Spiral Valley Records.
To get an idea of the band’s sound beyond “dreamy”
(which it is!), look no further than the comprehensive careers of the members
of Opal Eskar and the company they
keep.
Blau met Howkins
and Delcampo after relocating to
Philly following a highly prolific period in the Olympia, Washington area where
he released dozens of records and helped nurture the scene that brought the K Records label and influential artists
such as Laura Veirs, The Microphones, and Earth — many of which Blau recorded and performed with — to
prominence.
More recently, Veirs, along with My Morning Jacket front man Jim
James, appeared with Blau on a
cover of Link Wray’s ten-minute epic
“Fallin’ Rain,” a cut from Introducing Karl Blau, a covers
collection of overlooked country songs by Blau,
released by legendary UK record label Bella
Union.
Delcampo has two earlier album releases to his name, as well
as another pair as Hong Kong Stingray.
His list of current and former collaborators is long, including Kid Congo Powers, Joel RL Phelps, and Dave
Lovering of Pixies. Last year he
released a single with Howkins as Later Fortune, called “lush,
sophisticated art pop” by Brooklyn Vegan.
Howkins has released two full-length albums of his own, and
is a founding member of the choral group The
Silver Ages with members of Dr. Dog
and The War on Drugs, the Grammy®-winning rock band that features
Hall on drums and Bennett on keys, the same instruments
they contribute to Opal Eskar.
Like Howkins
and Delcampo’s Later Fortune project, which covered David Bowie’s soul-noir classic “Win” (from the Young Americans album, which was
recorded in Philly), Opal Eskar
cannot help but be influenced by the man.
Delcampo says, “A few years after Bowie’s death, I was reflecting upon his methodology of assembling
an interesting cast of characters into the right room at the right time. Tony Visconti, Brian Eno, Nile Rodgers,
Mick Ronson, and many others.”
Inspired to assemble his own group of collaborators
this way, Delcampo reached out to Blau (whose work he had long admired)
and Howkins brought Hall and Bennett to the band.
Opal Eskar’s own song about modern love is the EP opener and
first single, “And Yet Love Rules.” Blau says the song asks us to “let love
be the governing force in exchanges with other humans. Let the innocence of our
inner child — the curiosity that permeates life — help lead our actions and interactions.”
That sentiment permeates the entire EP — the blissful
sound of a group of musicians with their own thing going on, but whose mutual
respect for each other’s work inspires a creative curiosity that makes it to
tape (yes, the EP is an analog recording!)
The debut EP by Opal
Eskar arrives on May 19 via Spiral Valley Records and preceded by
the singles “And Yet Love Rules” (March 17), “The Woodsman” (April 7)
and “Open Mind” (April 28.)
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Josh Bloom at Fanatic
Promotion | Contact
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