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Rainer Maria return in full force with a brand new full-length written and recorded by all three founding members. Frequently hailed as a pioneering band in the Midwestern DIY scene, Rainer Maria got back together in 2015 after a decade-long hiatus and has been playing shows ever since. Guided by their shared history as songwriters, and buoyed by their recent adventures and explorations in music and life as individuals, S/T fits like well worn boots with the spring of new soles.
Intuitively written without much post-mortem intellectualization, the album benefits from its origin as an exercise in fun between old friends who didn't necessarily have the intention of releasing a new record when they started down the path. The lyrics are full of natural imagery, influenced by the more pastoral setting outside Caithlin De Marrais' window – soil and greenery, weather patterns, and other markers of country life. While sonically, S/T retains and even amplifies the core grit and vigor that Rainer Maria has always had as a band.
The album also benefits mightily from William Kuehn's hand at production, his first time doing so for a Rainer Maria release. His bandmates implicit trust in him is a guiding force allowing each song to take on its own distinct life without losing a sense of overall cohesion.