A rogue wave is one that appears out of nowhere, with no prior hint. While seemingly random, a physics research paper on the phenomenon found “rogue [waves]do not necessarily appear without a warning, but are often preceded by a short phase of relative order”. It’s the calmness of the water around this wave that lends it significance.
This is all to say that “What Is Left To Solve”, the new single from Rogue Wave, has risen from a pool of relative calmness. Nothing on their previous effort, 2013’s Nightingale Floors, with its sparse and light sounds, portended a spacy synth and drum heavy track.
Zack Rogue sounds farther away here, as if at the top of this wave looking down on the waters below. The question on his mind here seems to be, do I have anything left to say and is there anything that hasn’t been said before? After over a decade and five full-length albums Rogue may be running into that existential question. It’s a question any creator, whether artist or inventor, must face at some point.
The problem with living in the present is it feels like no stone has been unturned, it’s all been done before. On Strand of Oaks track “Shut In”, Timothy Showalter felt something similar when he sang “I was born in the middle / Maybe too late / Everything good had been made”. It takes a certain kind of courage to yell into the void and hope it gets heard. Rogue Wave is hoping there was a calm before this storm.
Delusions of Grand Fur drops April 29th on Easy Sound Recording Company.
Dates for Rogue Wave’s upcoming tour:
05/05 Oakland, CA – Starline Ballroom
05/06 Mill Valley, CA – Sweetwater Music Hall
05/07 San Francisco, CA – The independent
05/10 Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom
05/11 Buffalo, NY – Tralf Music Hall
05/12 Boston, MA – The Sinclair
05/13 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
05/14 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
05/15 Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s
05/17 Washington, DC – Black Cat
05/18 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
05/19 Atlanta, GA – Terminal West
05/20 Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge
05/21 St. Louis, MO – Old Rock House
05/22 Kansas City, MO – Riot Room
05/24 Milwaukee, WI – Turner Hall
05/25 Minneapolis, MN – Turf Club
05/26 Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
06/09 Dallas, TX – Club Dada
06/11 Austin, TX – Mohawk Outdoors
06/12 San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger
06/17 Los Angeles, CA – Teragram Ballroom
06/18 Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up
Listen on our Spotify playlist:
