Cass McCombs has been hard at work since the 2019 release of his ninth studio LP, Tip of the Spear. In the three-year interim, he’s collaborated on music with a motley array of artists and thinkers, from Wynonna Judd to Tinariwen to Noam Chomsky, produced a collection of songs by the late avant-garde actress Karen Black, and published a book of poetry. Still, “Belong To Heaven,” out today via ANTI-, is his first solo standalone single since 2020’s “The Wine of Lebanon.”

The new track pairs an upbeat bat subtly mournful groove — built with help from Daniel Haim (drums and backing vocals), The Chapin Sisters (backing vocals), Shahzad Ismaily (bass, keys, piano), Frank LoCastro (keys), Buddy Ross (hammond organ), and Ariel Rechtshaid (production) — with a sweet tribute to a lost friend. McCombs, who holds down the lead vocal and takes a turn at nearly every other instrument in the studio, assumes a Dylanesque perspective to his top line: “You were totally lunar / You had a gallows at City Hall and gallows humor / Wish I had met you sooner / Now you belong to heaven,” he sings in the second verse, mixing a modicum of humor into his grieving process.

Watch the lyric video for “Belong To Heaven” and view McCombs’ upcoming tour dates in California and Guadalajara, Mexico below.

May 21 – Guadalajara, MX – Corona Capital Festival Guadalajara
June 14 – Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room
June 15 – San Diego, CA – Casbah
June 17 – Los Angeles, CA – Lodge Room
June 18 – San Francisco, CA – The Chapel
June 19 – Cayucos, CA – Schooner’s