Kevin Bronson on August 2nd, 2018

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San Francisco-bred brother duo Cones take a left-brain/right-brain approach to their music. Michael Rosen is the technical sibling; he works as a composer for film and commercials and is an experimental sound artist. Jonathan Rosen is known for his hand-drawn animations; he has created videos for Toro y Moi, Eleanor Friedberger, Delicate Steve and Cones’ first single.

Both played in Friedberger’s backing band before embarking on Cones, who have released a handful of singles over the past year and a half and, it was just announced, are working on a full-length for L.A.-based Dangerbird Records. “Run the Risk” is their latest creation — a typically glowing soft rocker about how hard baring your soul can be. Though set to a relentless marching beat, the song unfolds with a cascade of keys (think Steely Dan) and confessional, boy-next-door vocals — it’s warm yet wistful, as Cones have shown they can be.

“‘Run The Risk’ is a very simple tune about the anxiety of opening up to somebody romantically, and that potent (and necessary) dose of fear that drops in when you start to let somebody into your little world,” Jonathan Rosen says. “The song might have the fewest lyrics I’ve ever written — basically just one idea said over and over. That kind of simplicity is something I’ve wanted to experiment with. We recorded it live (with overdubs) at our friend Adam Gunther’s studio, where the song discovered its angular and phrenetic identity.”

||| Stream: “Run the Risk”

||| Live: Cones do a residency at the Bootleg Theater the first three Mondays of this month: Aug. 6, 13 and 20. They also play Dangerbird’s showcase at Echo Park Rising, on Aug. 16 in the Champagne Room at Taix.

||| Previously: “Later,” “Whatever You’re Into,” “Echoes On”