Push Puppets - All Together On 3
Melodic indie pop-rock outfit Push Puppets presents 'All Together On 3', the cinematic first single from their album 'Tethered Together', slated for release later in 2025. A catchy introduction to their new long-player, it has a timeless quality, tinged with a touch of melancholic reflection, taking us on a sonic trip that is as stimulating as it is emotionally resonant.
Based in the Chicago satellite community of Palatine, Push Puppets revolves around singer-songwriter and guitarist Erich Specht. They create songs with earworm melodies and shiny production that belie the often bittersweet sentiments in the songwriting.
A clear standout on the album, 'All Together On 3' blissfully reaches the listener's tympanum through the workings of a five-piece band and string quartet. A moody and musically progressive song about how we’re stronger when we work together, it builds to a cathartic reprise of live strings and harpsichord with a desperate vocal crying for a helping hand as violins punctuate the lines with elegance.
With Specht on lead vocals and guitar, Push Puppets is rounded out by Steve Frisbie (backup vocals and guitar), Kyle Magnusson (keyboards), John William Lauler (bass) and Greg Essig (drums). On this particular album, they are joined with a string quartet on most songs and a horn section on one.
"I think 'All Together On 3' paints a pretty vivid picture of someone needing help out of a tough situation. This one was very satisfying to see fully realized. It has some math rock moments like phrases and patterns of different lengths keeping things interesting," says Erich Specht.
Their fourth album, 'Tethered Together' is graced with impeccable songwriting that shines with lush harmonies, angular guitars, dramatic keyboards and strings backed by a rhythm section to ensure a continually high groove factor.
Frontman Erich Specht muses on relationships and loss, as well as the weight and joy of life, in a manner that is poetic and seems effortless, his lyrics fitting to the melody like pieces of a puzzle. Wearing his vulnerabilities like a badge of honor, this music takes us on a journey to unexpected places.
With songs as the engine of this album, nurtured and allowed to reach their potential, 'Tethered Together' is quite a varied sounding album, eloquently woven together by Specht’s unique storytelling.
"This album offers a nod to the artistic excesses of the 70s, whether it's a wall of phased vocals or a moment where guitars and strings rip a quick line together between phrases. The tracks are widely varied yet cohesive - and within a given song, you're likely to be taken elsewhere" says Erich Specht.
"Once it was decided that strings would be on the album, the sound took an interesting twist. At places where I might normally put a guitar hook, I was now composing bold phrases for the live string quartet that the vocal or lead guitar could interact with."
As of February 4, 'All Together On 3' is available from fine digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The full 'Tethered Together' album will be released on May 16 via Flowering Tree Music.
