Amidst the lush environs of his northwest roots, Manatee Commune (aka Grant Eadie) has fermented an organically molded electronic sound that has been teasing the synapses of audiophiles over the last few years. While not a stranger in the Pacific Northwest, Grant Eadie’s tracks have grown tentacles that stretch deep into the dance floor, fueled by natural overtones that he extracts from field recordings.
Following the head-turning EP ‘Thistle’ on Brooklyn-based label Bastard Jazz Recordings (Illa J, Lord Echo, & others) from earlier this year Grant comes to the label armed with violin arrangements, nuanced programming and pressure-sensitive LED drum breaks peppering the audio-visual experience of his participatory live performances. His debut album Manatee Commune is set for a September 16th release on Bastard Jazz, and displays the elevated confidence and deft touch of a producer truly finding his footing. Already opening for Bonobo, and recently touring with Chad Valley and Blackbird Blackbird, Manatee Commune has been featured on NPR, Stereogum, and Spin, amongst other outlets.
Grant’s full length label debut, the self titled Manatee Commune album represents a giant leap forward in terms of sound and songwriting. The album kicks off with “What We’ve Got”, featuring Detroit rising star Flint Eastwood on vocals, showcasing Grant’s shimmering, playful production style. The song was an unlikely summer anthem, garnering over half a million spins on Spotify in the span of just a few weeks. Further vocal tracks come from two female singers, Marina Price and Moorea Masa – who give the album a sense of cohesiveness and conjure almost a band-like feel, rather than a single producer blindly sending out beats. Lyrics, music and arrangement were at times collaborative efforts between Grant and his chanteuses, which shines through in the cohesiveness of the vocal tracks.
