Today, Chad Price Peace Coalition shares “Wake Me” from its debut, A Perfect Pearl (Double Helix Records | SofaBurn Records).

An artist entering his staggering fourth decade writing and performing music that weaves in and out of seminal pop-punk, alt-country, metal, and a fascinating indie folk-prog hybrid, Chad Price has made the most of his time.

As a result of many miles and artistic transformations (ALL, Drag The River, A Vulture Wake) Price now welcomes the arrival of a new project: Chad Price Peace Coalition and the album A Perfect Pearl. Price unpacks the group’s origin story:

“A year or so ago I did a show singing with an ALL cover band. I really liked the guys and we bonded over our love of prog-rock. The idea of expanding the sound started influencing my writing.” 

Cory West (drums, lead guitar, and keys) and Anthony Medici (bass, lead guitar, and vocals) were the perfect partners in fleshing out Price’s latest ten songs. While A Perfect Pearl certainly delivers Price’s signature rough-hewn vulnerability, the limber trio format kicks up some sublime musical moments that feel distinctly inspired by prog giants like Jethro Tull and Yes.

Opener “FAWN” may have crunchy guitars and throbbing Americana tremolo, but the twinkling Fripp-ish guitars and unpredictable, lilting melody signal that this is yet another artistic detour for Price. The subsequent songs flash artifacts from Price’s other musical identities, but Peace Coalition feels like thrilling, new terrain. There’s “Rainbow,” a desolate transmission picked up on a dizzy Leslie speaker, and the low-key, dusty rock opera of “Sunflower,” with its jarring harmonic shifts. “Tongue” is a wonderful slow-burner that skirts Price’s alt-country bona fides before blossoming into cathartic sheets of sound.

Deep on side two, “A.M.” nudges up the tempo a bit, but instead of retreating into basic rock and roll, it coils into a menacing circular repeating pattern, threes over fours–or maybe vice versa.

Chad Price Peace Coalition’s A Perfect Pearl is a distinctly compelling listen, and like the best rock albums, it provokes and ultimately rewards an attentive listener. The album sees release on May 30. Pre-order it here.

Catch the band live:

Photo courtesy of Lindsey Lu McGuire.