Detroit’s Dirt Room premiere new single ‘Salt’

Dirt Room is a versatile experimental post-punk project that’s existed in a state of fairly consistent fluctuation. Since “Salt” was created in the not-so-distant past, perhaps a concise origin story is in order.

Listen to Dirt Room – “Salt”

If you read every word of the headlines above, then you should know that this Detroit-based group is only technically, or at least presently, a trio. “Salt” is the lead single off their forthcoming EP, Moving Paint, scheduled to be released in June. While it was recorded amidst the existential dread of the early days of quarantine, “Salt” started coming to life back in 2018 — when the band happened to actually be a quartet.

Dirt Room currently consists of Samuel Sprague and Pat Norton, with Caleb Horvath on drums. But Dirt Room officially started as a duo in Lansing back in 2016, formed by Sprague and his brother Simon, who originally handled lead vocals. When the pair moved to Detroit in 2017, they added Norton on guitar, with Pierre Altschul joining on bass. The Sprague brothers would go on to study music tech at Wayne State University while they continued to grow Dirt Room. Altschul left the band and went on to lead the electronic group DaddyMother.

Presently, Simon Sprague is no longer part of Dirt Room but continues to release music under the banner Simiyen. Samuel Sprague has since moved from drums to lead vocals and writing, though be aware that “Salt” still features Simon Sprague’s vocals. And even though it was written prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, “Salt” feels perfect for the present, tapping into our collective yearning for both closure and escapism.

And it’s groovy as hell.

Each of the nearly five distinct movements in this contained indie-pop opera are laced with catchy, danceable hooks, but adorned with reverb-splashed guitars, a funky bass line and a versatile variation of percussive accouterments. There is a minimalist opening that builds tension, until it quickly erupts into a shimmying beat with shimmering guitars and impassioned vocals that thread a melody that might otherwise seem roaming, but combined with the music, it fits gracefully. The bass falls out for eight measures while we take a few breaths with a cascade of guitar riffs, and then we’re right back into the groove for its fourth movement, where things start to really swoon.

That’s the thing about Dirt Room — they’re simultaneously all over the place while somehow being incredibly focused — a harmoniousness forged from hodgepodge. They might have guitars, synths, drums and bass, they might sing ear-pleasing melodies, but they also draw influence from the inherently eclectic free jazz, no wave and art-rock, all of which tend to bleed through sporadically across their arrangements.

But it’s the talented players involved that help “Salt” shine. Along with Simon Sprague, this track features previous Dirt Room members such as bassist Cam Frank, vocals from Sree Kota, and Matt Hager on synth.

The Moving Paint EP was recorded at Wayne State University’s Old Main Records and High Bias Recordings with producer Chris Koltay and mastered by Warren Defever at Third Man Mastering.

Dirt Room will hit the road with Montreal-based Maxime in July.