Bill Baird Is Hopeful in a "World Gone Deaf"

Bill Baird has released countless records over the past decade under his own name, under the nom de musique Sunset and as a member of the band Sound Team. Two years in the making, Spring Break of the Soul (out March 5 on Pau Wau Records) finds the Mills College composition student applying more polish to his production, which draws more attention to his offbeat art-pop arrangements. "World Gone Deaf" juxtaposes a bass saxophone with what sounds like a mbaqanga-inspired rhythm section; Baird's multi-tracked vocals offer advice along the lines of "If you want to beat the devil, sing joyously." The lo-fi video superimposes song lyrics on grainy footage of Baird and parodies of TV news tropes. Frames float across frames, expanding and dissolving.