Jenn Wasner has never been one to overexplain. Whether fronting Wye Oak, stepping into collaborations with Bon Iver or Sylvan Esso, or working alone under the Flock of Dimes banner, she’s always trusted that the real stuff finds its way through. The feeling. The ache. The shade between the words. With her new single ‘Long After Midnight’, she clears the path completely. No synths. No studio tricks. Just her voice, her guitar, and the kind of honesty that makes you stop what you’re doing.
‘Long After Midnight’ opens with nothing but fingerpicked acoustic guitar and Wasner’s voice, dry and close. No polish. No distance. It’s intimate without being confessional. There’s a lived-in quality to it. You’re not watching a performance. You’re eavesdropping on someone working it out in real time.
Her delivery is deliberate. The lines hang heavy. She sings, “If you call me, I would answer
I’m the last line of defence,” and lets the silence do the rest. That restraint is the song’s greatest strength. It doesn’t climb. It doesn’t swell. It stays grounded in the quiet tension between the notes. Then, just when you start to forget you’re listening to a studio recording, upright bass and restrained drums slide gently in underneath. Steel guitar follows, soft and almost ghostlike. The arrangement never takes the spotlight. It simply fills in the space.
There’s no facade left. ‘Long After Midnight’ reads like a conversation she’s been having with herself for years. She’s not reaching for clarity. She’s not drawing conclusions. She’s sitting in the mess, calmly taking stock.
Even the video leans into this stillness. A single take. No cuts. No distractions. Just Wasner moving slowly through a room, lost in thought. Directed by Spence Kelly, it’s the perfect visual match — unfussy, but full of feeling.
This single doesn’t rely on production to carry the emotion. It trusts the song. It trusts the listener. That quiet confidence is what makes it land. Flock of Dimes is not trying to keep up with anyone else.
‘Long After Midnight’ is a beautifully restrained beginning to what looks like a deeply revealing chapter. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, unmoored, or simply unsure, this song is for you.
‘Long After Midnight’ is out now via Sub Pop Records and the album The Life You Save is up for pre order ahead of its October 10 release.
You can follow Flock of Dimes on social media here….
Photo Credit
Elizabeth Weinberg
Discover more from Static Sounds Club
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Static Sounds Club 