Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s selection, featured on the Afternoon Show with Kevin Cole, is “I Say Your Name” by Magic Trick from the 2012 album Ruler of the Night on Hardly Art.
Magic Trick may be the latest project featuring significant input from the restless Tim Cohen (Sonny & The Sunsets, Feller Quentin, solo), but it’s just as worthy of a listen as any of its predecessors. Performing alongside bandmates James Kim, Alicia Vanden Heuvel, and Noelle Cahill, Cohen leads Magic Trick to create a blend of psychedelic folk with tinges of country and classic pop.
The penultimate track on their debut album, “I Say Your Name,” is a lush, mid-paced ballad that finds Cohen crooning over gorgeous instrumentation and wordless coos from Cahill and Heuvel. Despite the luxuriant tone of the music, Cohen has pulled a classic move from the songwriter’s playbook and placed dark lyrics across the band’s otherwise cheery tune, pining “I’m going to sleep under the sea / Don’t leave me tonight.” Beautifully dichotomous, “I Say Your Name” is an excellent addition to Cohen’s already deep songbook.
Tim Cohen and company don’t have any dates booked as Magic Trick at the moment, but you can hear about any potential shows first by monitoring their Facebook page. In the meantime, watch this video of the band playing “Oh Oh Oh” in San Francisco last year: