Author: nathan.lankford

Austin Spotlight: I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness Return

I-Love-You-But-Ive-Chosen-DarknessIn the early 00s, Austin was alive, like most of the country, in the rehashing of 70s/80s influenced dance music; Red Fez, Whiskey Bar and Beauty Ballroom were the hot spots.  In the middle of that mini-musical explosion was I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness, who unfairly got lumped in under the genre of Joy Division copycats.  But, they’re back with a brand new album, and from the sounds on the single, they’re not really going to have to wear that mark much longer. Sure, there’s that melancholic tone, but the guitar and percussive work seemingly move more into a post-rock sphere; clearly this a band who’ve taken some time to grow.  They’re new record, Dust, will be released on Secretly Canadian on October 28th.

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New Music from Connections

Sixes_Promo2I’ve been hooked on the Connections ever since my friend Stephen of Sweet Talk turned me on to their first two LPs.  I snatched them up, and I’ve been thirsting for more, which is lucky as the band are about to release their new record, Into Sixes, next week. The latest track to surface is a perfect piece of power pop, the like I haven’t heard since the last Gentleman Jesse record.  The guitars are crisp, the cymbals shake in all the right places, and the vocals are extremely infectious; I don’t think fans of this genre will find a better LP than what these guys have to offer. They’ve also just put up a video for the single you should watch HERE.  Look for the LP next week via Anyway Records at your local store, or pre-order it HERE.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/03-Cruise-Control.mp3]

 

Dreamy Track from Ultimate Painting

upWow.  This new Ultimate Painting tune is really something. The band is comprised of equal parts Mazes and Veronica Falls, though I don’t think you’ll find too many similarities to the work of either.  Instead, they’ve crafted a brooding song, gentle in its unfolding, holding tight to traditional pop stylings.  It seems like the perfect track to play as your night draws to a close; I feel like the emotional pull is best understood with minimal lighting. You’ll be able to grab the group’s self-titled debut album on October 28th from Trouble in Mind Records.

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Ausmuteants Ready New Album

ausI’ve talked about my appreciation for Australia’s Ausmuteants on these pages before, and they’re back again with a new single, readying a new album.  I love the spastic delivery on the vocals here; it works in and out of step of the guitar chords that ring out, while a nice darkened synth line pushes the moody attitude up a notch.  Personally, I love how the band often feel out of control, yet it all is perfectly fitting and actually a rather tight ship.  Goner Records will be releasing Order of Operation on September 30th, and the band will tour the States through September, including a show at Beerland on the 23rd.

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New Music from Arp

arpI’ve been waiting to play this wonderful new track from Arp for you for a couple of weeks. I fell in love with his last album, More, and it seems that with his new EP, he’s got a slew of great new songs for you.  There’s a bit of fuzz bursting from the background on this track, but there’s this plodding pop hook that runs throughout; it’s no wonder he’s signed on to work with Mexican Summer.  While it’s not quite a full-length, the Pulsars e Quasars EP is really going to win a slew of new fans.  I really can’t stop listening to this track.  You can get the EP on September 23rd.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/02-Pulsars-e-Quasars.mp3]

 

New Single from Sunshine State

sunshineThere are certain styles of music that just make you nostalgic.  Listening to this new single from Sunshine State, I’m transported to the late 90s/early 00s when Jets to Brazil and like-minded acts dominated much of my music rotation.  There’s that same scratchy vocal here in this number, though the path towards pop sensibility is what really reminds threw me back in time.  The group has signed on with No Idea Records to release their newest album Pour; it should be in your favorite local record store on September 23rd.

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Fuzzy Rocker from Happy Diving

bigworldWhile we’re all getting our guitar rock on, we tend to forget that the style’s always sort of been there, just waiting for us to get our jam back on.  I feel like the dude’s in Happy Diving were probably always into it, always hoping their friends would hear their songs and get tossed back into the golden age of guitar jams.  Their latest single is full of solos and feedback, yet still it’s all about turning your amps up and having a blast with your friends.  This track will be featured on the band’s new album, Big World, which will be released by Father Daughter Records on October 21st.

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Little Cinema Hits the Diving Board

tdubsLong ago there was a great little Austin band named Hollywood Gossip.  For all intents and purposes, they were my favorite local pop band…then they were gone.  Frontman Tyler Womack has relocated to Brooklyn, but he’s still got a knack for writing hook-laden songs…he even still is pushing the path through Austin; Marcus of Shivery Shakes and Dana Falconberry appear on his new single. This first song really reminds me why I fell in love with Womack’s work long ago; he’s got a rather distinctive voice, kept in check by Falconberry here.  It’s nice to see Tyler back as Little Cinema.

Summer Pop from Saint Pepsi

saintsSeems like Saint Pepsi is gearing up to finish off your summer strong, offering up another great pop tune off his new 7″.  This jam trickles in a bit slowly, but then it spins into an upbeat number that deserves some time in your poolside playlist.  There’s a simplicity to this tune, bringing the hook immediately to your ears, rather than making you wait for it; it’s evident throughout the whole track.  You can grab this track at your local record store; it’s the B-side to the Fiona Coyne 7″ that is being released by Carpark Records today!

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Brighten Your Day with Allo Darlin

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alloI think I first fell in love with Allo Darlin when I started listening to their last record, Europe, on repeat.  It was the perfect collection of indie pop songs, and it seems as if the group is back with another set of incredible songs to make your life ten times better.  On their first single from their forthcoming LP, you can already tell there’s an advanced spirit, though the genial quality of the group is still ever-present in the tones and vocal delivery from Elizabeth Morris. They’ve titled the album We’re From the Same Place, which will be released by Slumberland on October 7th.

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