Do That For You

Maribou State “Blackoak”

The string arrangement in “Blackoak” gives the song a majestic feel, but it’s a casual sort of majesty I’d compare to, say, Lisa Stansfield’s classic “Been Around the World.” I think a lot of this comes down to the way a very lived-in soulful vocal part adds depth to the drama built up by the music rather than amps it up further. It counters the hyperbolic quality of the arrangement without deflating it and conveys a very centered perspective that really sells the gratitude at the heart of the song. That sentiment hits harder with the implication that it’s coming from someone who sees the person they’re addressing very clearly.

Buy it from Bandcamp.