Cold Duck Complex presents Freshwater: Bad Love

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If you're from Western Massachusetts and involved in the local music scene, you're probably familiar with Cold Duck Complex. I've been following them since I was in 10th grade and consider myself fortunate to have seen them rip countless venues from Amherst, MA to New York City. In fact, I'm one of those privileged enough to witness their birth at local coffee shops and high school talent shows. Growing up with the guys in CDC and watching them grow as people and musicians has been a privilege.


As is to be expected with any band, there have been some changes since the early days of Cold Duck. They've changed keyboard players, experimented with new styles, and moved to different parts of the country. What has stayed the same is their impeccable ability to make great music. That ability is sure to be present on the groups' new project, Cold Duck Complex presents Freshwater: Bad Love. Freshwater promises to satisfy CDC loyalists while simultaneously starting a new chapter for group members. Bassist Joe Cardozo, fresh off of kick starting indy label M.I.T.E.!, is central to the new album. Cardozo calls Freshwater, "a vehicle for me to continue to produce, perform, and record in collaboration with Platypus Complex (MC), Makaya (Drums), Jeff (Keys), and Darby (Keys), as well as other musicians, emcees, and vocalists, while still keeping the Cold Duck Complex collective intact."

This new album already gets a big co-sign based on the tracks I've been able to check out. I can't wait to hear the final product. For folks on the east coast, there will be a small tour to celebrate the albums release. Dates are as follows.

Cold Duck Complex/Freshwater CD Release shows:
July 21, 8:30pm -- The Annex, New York, NY
July 23, 10pm -- The Lily Pad, Cambridge, MA
July 24, 10pm -- The Iron Horse, Northampton, MA

To wet your appetite, I've decided to include two choice cuts off of Cold Duck's past two albums.

The first, "I've Got a Friend", is a personal favorite. I vividly remember it's premiere at a show in Northampton, MA. Centered around an abusive relationship, I still get goosebumps when I hear this one. "I've Got a Friend" comes from their most recent recorded effort, Enough.

Download "I've Got A Friend".



Buy the Enough album.

This next track is off of their 2003 release Figureheads. The song offers Platypus Complex's unique perspective on the events and aftermath of 9/11. It's a very emotional tune that features some of the most intense and hard hitting lyrics ever spit by PC. I'll always remember the context of first hearing "Wake Up", in early demo form, on a car ride down south. It was played for me while driving past NYC for the first time post 9/11. The song, mixed with the visual intensity of the towers being gone from the skyline, made everyone in the car go silent.

Download "Wake Up".



Buy the Figureheads album.


I bought the lead single (which kicks ass) off of the new Freshwater project at Amazon for 89 measly cents. You can do the same by clicking here.