Debut EP, Alien Sunset, out October 20th via Jagjaguwar
“Clarke’s songs as Cut Worms are filled with homespun charm and vintage patina, and “Like Going Down Sideways,” the lead single for his debut EP for Jagjaguwar, is some of his most pleasant work yet.” – Pitchfork
Cut Worms (a.k.a. Max Clarke) is excited to share “Song of the Highest Tower” via FLOOD Magazine. This is the second single off his first-ever EP, “Alien Sunset,” which is out next Friday, October 20th via Jagjaguwar / Rhythmethod.
“Song of the Highest Tower” was written on the same day that Loud Reed passed away in October of 2013. It was also inspired by the Arthur Rimbaud poem of the same name. Here’s what Clarke has to say about the track:
I came across the Velvet Underground in high school. It was new and unheard of in my little suburb and it changed how I looked at music in a profound way. I wanted to honor that, or if not, pay it back, and at least give some kind of credit. One thing about the self-titled Velvet Underground album that really struck me was that they were fairly simple songs, but each song on that album contained a whole revelation. There wasn’t any bullshit or filler or flash, it just was what it was and it felt important. With the Rimbaud poem, I happened to be flipping through this book of poems at the same time I had the melody to that song and it somehow matched up perfectly. When I was writing “Song of The Highest Tower,” I wasn’t actually thinking about any of this stuff. I just wrote it and recorded it on my 8-track and that was it. But now looking back, I’m able to say that it could be a tribute to Lou Reed of sorts.
“Alien Sunset” is a collection of songs written and recorded by Clarke on an 8-track while living in Chicago and New York (where he currently resides). Cut Worms initially began as a personal endeavor with Clarke setting a goal of writing and posting 2 songs online per month. The positive praise his music received led to him signing with Jagjaguwar, and honing his live performance with opening sets for artists like Foxygen, Mild High Club, and more. Now, he’s touring as an opener for The Lemon Twigs and Nick Lowe before playing his official EP release show at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn on Thursday, November 2nd.
“Clarke’s forlorn, beautifully simplistic vocal harmonies do more to pull at heartstrings than the most excessive vocal gesticulations.” – Brooklyn Magazine in “15 NYC Bands You Need To Hear”
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