Los Angeles-based brother duo of Jonathan and Michael Rosen, a.k.a. Cones, have no patience for long formats: they are single-handedly, and rather intentionally, ushering the return of a 1950s-era way of doing things in the music business. And by that I mean releasing only singles: crisp, tuneful, spontaneous bursts of sound and color.
It might be me reading too much into things again, but their latest single “Later” sounds just like what you’d expect from a fraternal collaboration of a classically-trained, full-blooded musician (Michael) and an animator/actor/songwriter with a “keen ear for hooks” (Jonathan): a wonderfully intricate and immaculately produced composition that somehow feels light as a feather. Both driving and mellow, “Later” is soothing knotty pop for the melodic bliss-thirsty. According to Jonathan, “I wrote ‘Later’ a few years ago when I was moving back home to California from New York. I finished it on Highway 1. It captures that moment in a breakup when you finally start to find peace, but some of that bitterness is still hanging around. It was originally a bit somber, but Michael and I realized it worked pretty well as a dance track so we went for it.”
“Later” arrives November 10 via Dangerbird’s Microdose series. Listen below, and if you’re in the area, Cones have a couple upcoming L.A. shows: one at Dangerbird HQ (11/17) and another at Moroccan Lounge (12/7) with Midnight Sister.