Gypsophilia

'Night Swimming' (album stream)

BY Sarah MurphyPublished May 12, 2015

Haligonian jazz brigade Gypsophilia will unveil their latest LP Night Swimming next week, but Exclaim! is giving you the chance to hear it in its entirety before it's officially out.
 
The seven-piece ensemble are known for leaving a lasting live impression, delivering danceable, genre-defying music to festival crowds and cramped clubs alike. The band describe their sound as "angular, sweet, nostalgic, modern and raucous," and they took that energy to Joel Plaskett's New Scotland Yard studio in Dartmouth, NS, to make their latest record.
 
Night Swimming marks a departure from Gypsophilia's usual process of recording live, opting to hone their sound a bit more with the help of producer Joshua Van Tassel (David Myles, Great Lake Swimmers, Amelia Curran). The resulting 9-song collection shows off a slightly darker, more cinematic side to the group, though their signature swing remains in tact.
 
Opener "Boo Doo Down" features string arrangements that are at once eerie and exotic, yet reminiscent of their East coast roots, in addition to the suspense-building percussion and melodic guitar lines that propel the song forward. Things take a darker turn on tracks like "Deep Water" and the haunting, album closer "Night Falls and You Need Company," but there are still plenty of moments of brightness, buoyancy and straight-up groove to keep you moving.
 
Night Swimming is due out on May 19, but you can scroll past the band's upcoming tour dates to give it an early listen in the player below, right now.
 
Tour dates:
 
05/30 Wolfville, NS - Apple Blossom Festival
06/06 Halifax, NS - The Company House (album release 7 pm cabaret show)
06/06 Halifax, NS - The Company House (album release 10:30 pm dance party)
06/07 Halifax, NS - The Company House (album release 2:30 pm all-ages matinee)
06/16 Winnipeg, MB - Winnipeg International Jazz Festival
06/19 Edmonton, AB - Edmonton International Jazz Festival
06/20 Vancouver, BC - Vancouver Jazz Festival
06/21 Victoria, BC - Victoria Jazz Festival
06/24 Rochester, NY - Rochester Jazz Festival
06/25 Ottawa, ON - Ottawa International Jazz Festival
06/26 Toronto, ON - TBA
06/28 Montréal, QC - Montréal Jazz Festival
06/29 Montréal, QC - Montréal Jazz Festival 
 

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