Sam Zalta Shares Altar Single

I love coming across a tune from an artist unknown that just blows your hair back, in whatever fashion that may be. This Sam Zalta track did just that, though a few of you might know Sam as a touring member of Bambara. It’s sort of this ritualistic ballad, feeling like you’re walking into some room filled with cloaked figures and candlelit pathways (Ed. note–I wrote this before looking at the album art–don’t hate me). But, where the song bursts into this more euphoric shape is where I really found the love, as it contrast the moment of shimmering beauty with the heavy weight of the song’s verse, particularly when there’s one file explosion near the song’s end. I’m a sucker for a song that mixes dynamic juxtaposition with such ease, so definitely putting Memento Mori on my radar for its May 12th release date.

Fun Pop from The Gift (SXSW Artist)

You’re staring at your SXSW schedule, trying to figure out something interesting to squeeze in, though you’re not sure what you’re looking for, exactly. Might I suggest The Gift? The band crafts clever pop numbers, with this album the band’s first to sing entirely in English. Oh, and did I mention that Brian Eno of Brian Eno fame did the production on the album, as well played keyboards and backing vocals? Maybe he’ll show up at the fest to quietly sit behind the keys! Regardless, you’ll get a chance to hear tons of new tunes from the group’s new LP, Altar, which hits on May 5th via La Folie.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/305647122″ params=”color=00aabb&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Haunting Post Rock from White Void

whitevoidSort of woke up in a weird mo0d today, so I’ve been gravitating towards this beast of a tune from White Void.  There’s this real industrialized feeling to it, as if the song was recorded in some abandoned, post-apolcalyptic warehouse.   But, that being said, there’s this swirling of guitars that brings in a lighter emotion, clashing with the sterility that pervades the track.  You can find this tune, and 7 others on the band’s We’re Falling 12″, which has just been released by Posh Isolation.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/154499173″ params=”color=ff9900&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]