New Tunes from The Boat People

What can I say about Australian pop?  Man, it sucks me in every single time, but I won’t complain.  My newest find is The Boat People who just released their album Dear Darkly overseas. It’s got this atmospheric quality to the staple indie pop sound, and on the single “Soporific” the chorus is completely juxtaposed to the regular versus.  It’s a splendid style of songwriting.  Give this a try.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/02-Soporific-1.mp3]

Download: The Boat People – Soporific [MP3]

New Music From Versus

Veteran indie-pop band Versus were long thought dead after their much publicized breakup around 2001.  But then, wait, the group got back together for a few shows in 2008, re-worked their lineup and decided it was once again time to make music.  So now in 2010, Versus are planning to release their first LP in ten years entitled On the Ones and Threes via Merge on August 3rd. I don’t think anyone really knows what to expect from the new joint, but I do know I like the track below.  Welcome back kids.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/04-Gone-to-Earth-1.mp3]

Download: Versus – Gone to Earth [MP3]

Great Nostalgic @ Hole in the Wall (7/16)

Date 7/16/10
Location Hole in the Wall
Doors 8pm
Tickets $5 @ Door

A couple of our former A2W bands, The Great Nostalgic and The Sour Notes are getting things going at Hole in the Wall Friday night.  Those two ATH faves will be joined by relative unknowns (to us anyway) Zorch and Row Zero.  For 5 bucks, you can’t find a better lineup of local talent.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/01-Spirit-World.mp3]

Download: Great Nostalgic – Spirit World [MP3]

Paul White – Paul White & The Purple Brain

Rating: ★★★★☆

When a man turns into his own private realm to find inspiration, the results can be quite unexpected. If madness and immersion in a subject matter take over a man, the results can perhaps be more predictable. However, when both are combined, you get someone like Paul White. In this specific case, armed with only a sampler, renowned British hip-hop producer Paul White relied heavily on the eastern musical influences from the entire seminal works of legendary Swedish psyche rocker  S.T. Mikael. What emerged from this study is the second album to be released via his own determined One Handed Music label. It also marks his debut in conjunction with Now Again, Paul White & the Purple Brain, which was released back in early June.

For years, Paul White has been gaining quite the reputation as one of the most unique and forward thinking beat-makers in the UK, while in the process continuing to defy categorization. As his discography continues to grow on the foundation of his brilliant debut full length release, The Strange Dreams of Paul White, his sound and even his followers continue to evolve. Known at first as simply a hip-hop producer, White’s beats soon became something more, appealing to audiophiles of all genres. Nowadays, there is no limit to where his beats and his reputation can go, though one thing is for certain, he is working ahead of the curve.

As seen on his previous works and again found here in this primarily instrumental work, the sound-scapes he produces are relatively short in duration (with the longest at 2:23) but lengthy in number. Although his different effects and layers create unique worlds in each ‘sketch’, they all contain the original, overall psych-rock theme. On the opening number ‘Gentle Freak’ he uses a simple and summery guitar riff to form his main layer and from there he continues to form his piece with beat culminating in a track which is unavoidable catchy. On ‘Pride‘ he utilizes the same approach as the opener but creates a dreamy yet psychedelic sound-scape which is truly difficult to describe. He reunites with his hip-hop roots however on ‘Marshen Signals’, though the psych element never strays too far from the source. It’s remarkable how seamlessly White can combine different elements while composing a study as a whole so convincingly. Even on ‘Come Back’ which is the first entrance of a vocal track with its slow groove and ethereal vocals making it especially enjoyable.

Regardless of the track throughout the record, there’s no mistaking it’s the work of Paul White. It’s an incredible piece by one of the most forward thinking producers in ‘hip-hop’ today. The creative and spontaneous nature of his works continues to push the limits of the beat-making world while conversely staying strictly in its own world. It’s this adverse nature and approach to beat-making that gives White the vision and wherewithal to discover new things about his studies and his fantastic purple brain.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/02-Pride.mp3]

Download: Paul White – Pride [MP3]

New Tunes from Villa Cola

For some reason, dance music never really goes away, and that’s not a bad thing, entirely.  I’m pretty picky about my dance tracks, and I’ve found a new one I’ve been enjoying all day long.  Villa Cola have just released their self-titled Villa Cola EP, and it’s got some great subdued dance grooves going on throughout its entirety.  You’re sure to find enjoyment in every song, so head out and find this small gem of a dance album.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/02-Modern-Lovers-1.mp3]

Download: Villa Cola – Modern Lovers [MP3]

School of Seven Bells – Disconnect From Desire

Rating: ★★★½☆

Often times, we find that a bit of clarity pays off huge dividends.  For the second album from School of Seven Bells, Disconnect From Desire, this is precisely the case.  A few years of touring since their last release, and those moments of clarity provide for an entirely different listen than their previous album, Alpinisms.

While the band once coated their sound in a bit of fuzz and indifference, the moment you hear “Windstorm”, you can tell the group has flipped the table over, revealing a more pristine, electronic version of themselves. For one thing, the production has the Deheza sisters coming off a bit clearer, even with the tribal chanting in the background.  Sonically, they sound as if they aged, like a fine wine, getting better with as time’s passed.

But, the bread and butter of Disconnect From Desire has to live in the darker elements of the record.  “Heart is Strange” probably sounds really powerful in a venue, but in your home stereo, there’s an element of smoke filled clubs coated in debauchery.  This isn’t to say that the band is hinting at such things with their lyrics, but you can almost feel yourself sinking into a sense of despair, albeit an exuberant sort of despair.  “Dust Devil” evokes a similar quality with its driving rhythms, and vocals that seem to just float atop the air.  For some reason, this track evokes a weird monastery feel, perhaps its the way the twins carry the notes, almost to the point of chanting.

Using a minimal amount of instrumentation, however, does create a bit of redundancy throughout the entire listen.  It’s not that School of Seven Bells can’t write good tracks, as it’s clear they have that power, it’s just that the album doesn’t have a lot of variance; it blends together a bit, and gets mundane.   “ILU” and “Camarilla” use really delicate vocals from the girls, but their voices are so distinctive, that if you placed these songs back to back, which they’re not, you might find it hard to completely tell the songs apart from one another.  Perhaps some will find this attribute infinitely rewarding, as many people love their electronics with a solid vocal behind it.

All that being said, one track will surely stand out for every listener. You’ll find this hook on “Bye Bye Bye,” where the programmed element alone is enough to keep this track on repeat for prolonged periods of time.  Oddly, the girls sound a bit younger here, almost a bit more refreshed.  A few more tracks like these placed carefully around the album, and you’d probably have Disconnect From Desire in the running for album of the year.  Just promise yourself you won’t miss this track.

All in all, progress has been made, and it seems a great deal more rewarding for all parties involved with concerns to Disconnect From Desire.  A dark quality resides throughout the album, but it comes in the form of moving electronic flourishes, clear, for the most part, of the elemental noise that was present in the past.  School of Seven Bells have made an honest record, and one that now seems to match their electric live performances.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/SchoolOfSevenBells-Windstorm.mp3]

Download: School Of Seven Bells – Windstorm [MP3]

The Love Language – Libraries

Rating: ★★★★☆

It sounds like things in North Carolina couldn’t be any better. The Love Language recently signed to Merge Records, and then they followed that up with the release of Libraries.  At first listen, you might find sonic touches of other bands, you might even think you recognize vocal qualities of singer Stuart McLamb.  In the end, you’ll find that this record is full of well executed songs, all of which provide repeated listening pleasures for every individual who puts down the cash to get this well crafted pop opus.

“Pedals” starts off slowly, before guitars begin to ring in backed by light keyboard strokes.  Enter Stuart, carrying his melody high above the rest of the band’s swirling sonic display.  There’s an edginess to all this beauty, and every movement within the song feels sharp, yet incredibly uplifting, especially when the strings arrangements enter during the latter part of the song.  You can’t start off much better than this.

During “Brittany’s Back” you start to get a hint that McLamb has a bit of Hamilton from The Walkmen in his voice, but during this song, his voice seems much more controlled than his vocal contemporary.  But, on “This Blood is Our Own” you really see a similarity, as Stuart reaches for that high spectrum of his own pitch, wavering just a bit at the top.  Still, this song, aside from the piano, doesn’t really sound all that much like the aforementioned band; it has a much more cinematic quality, one that would fit nicely in the wooded regions of the Carolinas.

“Summer Dell” starts off a slew of songs that don’t sound as crowded, musically, and they really take Libraries to the the top tier of indie rock.  Steady guitar strumming, and really sharp drum hits, give it a strong emotive quality, yearning for you to get lost amidst the finer details of the song.  “Heart to Tell” takes a like-minded approach, as its similarly stripped down, though you’ll find a more upbeat group, giving you a little bit of swing as you listen.  McLamb’s vocal performance here is one of the strongest of the whole collection, and creative production from the percussive section adds an extra level of enjoyment.

Something about the approach to the writing in “Wilmont” will forever stick with you.  After an album that seems filled, cleverly, with every inch of space, you have a slow number that is carried by light strumming and McLamb, that is to begin the song.  Once the drums kick in, and the guitar seems to be chasing the stars, you try to follow, yet you’re distracted by the vocals, almost haunted.  It is hard to pull yourself away from this song; you simply can’t do it.

That’s precisely the way you’ll feel listening to Libraries, especially after the third and fourth listen.  Details will begin to emerge, melodies will seep inside you, and you’ll discover that crooning sounds coated in wooded effects can be successful.  In fact, it’s so much so, you will keep coming back to The Love Language just to take a different look around the indie world. You’ll be better off for it.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/ll-heart.mp3]

Download: The Love Language – Heart to Tell [MP3]

Pixel Pop @ Mohawk (7/16)

Date 7/16/10
Location Mohawk
Doors 9:30pm
Tickets $5 @ Door

That crazy kid Adi is up to his tricks again with another sure to be packed show at The Mohawk this Friday evening.  Music wise, your entertainment is provided by The Happen-Ins, Candi & The Strangers, The Bubbles, and DJ uLOVEi.  You comic geeks out there can also expect something called a “comic book inspired fashion show”… sounds cool to me.  You’ll also see some double photo booth action, on site painting/drawing, and tons of other art work on display available for purchase.  I’m sure this will be the “it place” to be on Friday.  Check out that fancy poster for more info about sponsors and beneficiary HAAM.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/08-Be-Yer-Fool.mp3]

Download: The Happen-Ins – Be Yer Fool [MP3]

New Tunes from The Cinammon Band

After touring with Wolf Parade, The Cinammon Band made quite an impression.  So much so that they were fortunate enough to be invited to record at the band’s Mt. Zoomer studio.  The session left the group with a four song EP of swelling indie rock full of melody and soul, something you wouldn’t expect necessarily from a duo to pull off so successfully.  But on the All Dressed EP (out 8/10), they do, and they do so with promise for a future full of great sounds. Here’s to the future.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/01-Im-Asking-You-1.mp3]

Download: The Cinnamon Band – I’m Asking You [MP3]

The Rumble Austin @ Beerland (7/14)

Date 7/14/10
Location Beerland
Doors 9pm
Tickets FREE!

Future Sounds have teamed up with local friends Covert Curiosity, The Austinist, Waterloo Records, and The Onion AV Club for a nice lineup of Austin talent at Beerland on Wednesday night.  The lineup of up and coming talent includes former Voxtrot member Mitch Calvert and his new band International Waters along with The Frontier Brothers and Candi & The Strangers.  If you aint gotta work the next day, make it out.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/salt_and_sea.mp3]

Download: International Waters – Salt and Sea [MP3]

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