Released: October 19, 2024
When it comes to my all-things-music wishlist, a proper follow-up to Poe’s Haunted has long been floating somewhere near the top (right behind another Radiohead release and an R.E.M. reunion). Of course, with each passing year, said wish felt more and more like a longshot. Well, with the recent release of the Alan Wake 2 videogame soundtrack, the promise of a new Poe L.P. suddenly feels a whole lot more realistic.
It was all of three weeks after writing the words “Poe is alt-rock’s Lauryn Hill. She dropped a career-defining record and promptly exited public life” a while back when news of new music began to surface. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect – or more eerie, considering the meta-textual nature of both Poe’s work and the now-iconic game franchise. For most, Alan Wake 2 will remain a highly-anticipated sequel. For this non-gaming (I wish I had the time) music fan, however, the accompanying soundtrack meant four tracks totaling nine minutes of new music from Poe.
The story behind “This Road” spans decades. The original Alan Wake soundtrack featured Poe’s “Haunted,” creating an unexpected bridge between her seminal 2000 release and the game. That connection deepened when Alan Wake’s creative director Sam Lake reached out to Poe during the development of the sequel. As she discussed in a press release, “I started out by just suggesting some sonic references within the narrative but Sam stopped me. He said ‘Poe, whatever you decide to do will be right because it comes from you.’ I have never experienced that kind of support and encouragement, especially from such an iconic creator. It truly set me on fire.”
What emerged feels almost profound given Poe’s own creative journey. After the release of Haunted back in 2000, the singer all but stepped away from the music industry. Then, in 2012, she released a short audio snippet (“September 30, 1955”) on YouTube, a track that would eventually become the foundation for “This Road.” The connections to her past don’t end there. In her conversation with Eric Van Allen (from Destructoid), Poe revealed that the creation of “This Road” involved a return to East West Studios (formerly Ocean Way) – the very same space where Haunted was recorded over two decades ago: “I guess you could say that Sam arrived at East West to hear ‘This Road’ via a 23 and a ½ year hallway.”
The limited edition vinyl release of “This Road” (subtitled “circa 1955, 2008, 2026”) marks Poe’s first physical music release in over two decades.
“This Road” – The A-side features “This Road,” which emerged from Poe’s collaboration with Alan Wake’s creative director Sam Lake. Clocking in at a little over nine minutes, this ‘full’ version (the song is cut four ways on the Alan Wake 2 soundtrack) pairs a rather fresh sounding deconstructed trip-hop foundation with an alluring vocal from Poe. A masterclass in vibe and restraint, “This Road” feels like a perfect blend of Poe’s trip-hop roots and the ambitious, cinematic leanings of Haunted (reminds me of a mix between “Dolphin” and “Wild”)
“Six Deep Breaths” – On the flip side, “Six Deep Breaths” offers an urgent, almost-uptempo counterpoint. Created for the game’s Lake House expansion, the song pairs a pretty traditional four-minute ‘verse/chorus’ arrangement with an ambient instrumental section subtitled “Sweet Dreams.”
As for the packaging, the premium gatefold sleeve and (presumably) 180 gram vinyl are a nice touch for an independent release. I count myself lucky to have a copy in hand – a Christmas gift from my wife who somehow managed to snag one despite the immediate sellout. That all said, word is there may still be some on hand (via additional pressings) over at poestuff.com.
So here we are. These two songs feel like more than just another one-off gaming soundtrack contribution–they represent a fascinating full-circle moment for Poe. After two decades of relative silence, she’s returned with music that feels both fresh and familiar, a perfect point of re-entry for artist and fanbase alike. Whether “This Road” marks the beginning of a fully-fledged return (i.e., a new L.P.) remains to be seen. Still, this limited vinyl release isn’t just a collector’s item – it’s a powerful reminder that Poe still has something to say.
Final thoughts? I have two: It’s so nice to hear Poe’s (remarkably ageless) voice again, and a whole album in the vein of this? Um, yes, please!
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