Two decades after their last transmission, the Chicago-born acoustic supergroup Pullman has returned. Comprised of post-rock royalty—Ken “Bundy K.” Brown (Tortoise), Curtis Harvey (Rex), Chris Brokaw (Come), Doug McCombs (Tortoise) and drummer Tim Barnes, who later joined, solidifying the group’s core lineup. The ensemble has shared “Bray,” the final single and visualizer ahead of their new album, III.
While their early Thrill Jockey releases, Turnstyles & Junkpiles and Viewfinder, were celebrated for their hushed, fingerstyle precision, “Bray” explores a different frontier. In just two minutes, the track trades rustic folk for distorted, woolly timbres. It’s a piece that feels both serrated and warm, bridging the gap between Midwest noise experimentation and ambient grace.
The story behind III (out this Friday, January 9th via Western Vinyl) is one of profound resilience. Following drummer Tim Barnes’s 2021 diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s (at age 54), he and Brown began a daily creative practice. What started as a small project blossomed into a full-length record, edited by Brown to preserve the group’s signature intimacy.
III stands as more than just a reunion; it is a testament to the sustaining power of community. “Bray” offers a glimpse into an album defined by memory, persistence, and the quiet weight of time.
Pre-Order III: https://lnk.to/pullman