"Vessel" is the new single from veteran singer-songwriter Dan Mangan's new project, "Dan Mangan + Blacksmith", as well as "an integral component" to the soundtrack for the new Simon Pegg-feature, Hector and the Search for Happiness, according to a press release from indie label Arts & Crafts. Boisterous and powerful, "Vessel" features Mangan's signature voice accompanied by a neatly woven texture of drums, flutes, piano, horns, and Dave Grohl (!) on back-up vocals. It's a particularly intelligent and well-crafted piece of indie-rock that excellently demonstrates Mangan's high level of musicianship as well as his skills as a songwriter, but "Vessel" isn't just musically impressive—it's also lyrically perceptive. "'Vessel' is about feeling inundated with bullshit from every angle all the time", Mangan said in the aforementioned release. "It's our choice to listen. We're also all culprit to it". It's a plethora of wise words from the artist, and, positioned alongside the sonic ingenuity expressed on "Vessel", it makes for quite an artistic achievement and worthwhile listen. "Vessel" will be released digitally on September 9th, and later in 7" vinyl format on October 14th. You can pre-order the physical copy HERE.
Dan Mangan + Blacksmith