Bitte Orca

Bitte Orca, 10 years after its original release, still retains its awe-inspiring power; its knotty, complex, stunning compositions have not been dulled by the passing of time, and in context, seem even more radical. The two albums leading up to Bitte Orca were a from-memory recreation of a Black Flag album (2007’s Rise Above), and a “glitch opera” about Eagles frontman Don Henley (2005’s The Getty Address). So when Bitte Orca came out, with its complex choral arrangements, and its deconstructed avant-pop and R&B, it felt like a shock to the system, a left-field masterpiece from out of nowhere. Bitte Orca would start a fertile creative period for the band, and cement frontman David Longstreth as one of the most adventurous indie rock auteurs.