Here’s the gorgeous new single from Portland band Fruition. Compass finds Fruition in fine form with beautifully arranged instrumental layers, building up in sweet melody. Kellen Asebroek’s vocal performance is clear and pure, a light and easy tunefulness carrying us through a poetic exploration of following your instincts and new beginnings: “Iʻm out here spinning ʻround in a ghost town // Each revolution, another inconclusion // Will I die here at the crossroads? // You could be a light in the sky! // Your heart is a compass rose, and it knows what’s right // The best way home, may be yet unknown // But you know it to be true //You’ll arrive when you mean to.”
It’s a gently compelling song about finding your path while navigating uncertainty. Jay Cobb Anderson explains: “There’s a magnetic pull from the Earth that can show true north if you have the right tools. We all get lost, but we all can be found. Our heads can trick us, but our hearts are tuned to the cosmic cardinal directions. If you listen to secrets in the rhythm of your pulse, you’ll always make it where you’re headed. And right on time.” Filmed by Andy Thompson, Jeff Leonard, and Josh Nicotra, and edited by Abaigeal Brown, the video takes us into the studio, where the band demonstrate their excellent musicianship.
Compass is taken from the band’s eighth studio album, Something More, produced by Grammy winner Tucker Martine (The Decemberists, My Morning Jacket, Our Man in the Field). Along with the album, Fruition have announced a series of live dates, running through into 2027; this will be their final tour after almost two decades of making music together. When the band began recording this album, they didn’t know that it would be the culmination of their creative endeavour. So, it seems fitting that the songs are themed around change, growth and uncertainty – this is where the band members now find themselves. The physical and personal realities, and financial burdens, of the touring lifestyle have led to Fruition deciding that it is time for change. The band explain: “The heartbreak is we feel more connected musically than we ever have. But after nearly 20 years of touring, we’ve had to be honest with ourselves about what it takes to sustain this band. Nearly every cost of being on the road—from fuel and flights to food and lodging—has gone up, while artists’ guarantees have remained largely static. At some point, you have to ask whether the way you’ve always done it still makes sense.” Recently, the huge and unexpected expense of van repairs almost ended a tour; indeed, it was only the support of loyal fans that kept the show on the road. “We found a way through this obstacle, but we couldn’t have done it without the incredible support of our fans. They showed up for us when we needed it the most, and we’ll never take that kind of support for granted.”
Asebroek adds: “After the pandemic, the music industry tried to just pick up where it left off. But the reality of it was that the world has changed; corporate monopolies have tightened their grip, late-stage capitalism has left people grinding even harder to make ends meet, and Americans are more isolated than ever – from each other, from communal artistic expression, and from the world at large. We tried to just resume our flow as a hardworking, club-level band, but that proved to be unrealistic.” While this is sad news and reflects the great challenges in the modern music industry, this final album is sensitive and beautifully written, a superb accomplishment and a fine legacy. Do check it out.
