Last Week’s Jams (4.1 – 4.5)

New music comes hard and heavy during the Spring months, as its the perfect time to set up summer releases and tours. We tried to get to as much as we could, and grabbed 24 new songs for you to settle into on this Monday. New stuff from Austin’s Variety assures the band is still on the rise in my eyes. I’ve been really into the tunes from Bibi Club‘s new LP, and they throw a plot twist with some English sparkle on it; it matches up well with the dark wave from Houses of Heaven. Friends of the site like Gabriel Birnbaum, Kaspar and Snowy Band all had new work to share with the masses., plus be sure you taste the new Babehoven tune hanging out for you at the end. Press play for joy!

Houses of Heaven Share Strange Temptation

Last time we were out jamming to Houses of Heaven they offered up the dark club hit “Deserve,” but as we dive in deeper with another single, they’re not afraid to hit things a little harder in the electronic realm. I love the pulsating rhythmic beat of this tune, though it definitely carries a sharper industrial edge than we had on that last hit. Even the vocal work feels a bit more strained, a bit more aggressive in its presentation…and, of course, I don’t mind that one single bit. When you hit the chorus, or what seems as it it fits that role, there’s this murky pop underbelly, though it gets shielded by the wash and the pulsing synth notes. This whole record is starting to feel like one great dark pop journey, and I’m totally here for it. They’ll be releasing Within/Without on April 26th via Felte.

Houses of Heaven Release Within Without

Industrial synth pop from Houses of Heaven, “Within/Without” is the first single and title track from the forthcoming album. The song briefly eases in before going full on with an anchor bassline, EBM kick and synth flourishes that lead to the elevated and cathartic chorus.

Shipping at the end of April, the pre-order for the marbled-gray vinyl released via Felte Records is live over on their Bandcamp. Other tracks on the record boast guest vocals from Nitzer Ebb’s Douglas McCarthy and (former Austinite) Mariana Saldaa of BOAN. Probably gonna pre-order this one for use at vinyl nights…

Houses of Heaven Provides A Slow Burn

Nathan sent this one over to me a few days ago as my recent listening habits have included a high proportion of darker synth stuff, even for me. Xymox, Joy Division and Lust for Youth have been on the turntable as recently as last night. I let this simmer, but had not given it an honest listen. While crushing spreadsheets yesterday, I had the headphones up a little higher than normal (HD660s on JDS Labs Atom, if anyone cares about such things and if you do, let me know and we’ll talk gear a bit) and this track popped up again with its layered percussion and synth textures that move forward methodically commanding attention. “Dissolve the Floor” landed squarely.

Houses of Heaven are Keven Tecon, Adam Beck, and Nick Ott. Surrounded by the backdrop of the bay area’s social inequities, they have put together their first LP Silent Places on Felte Records, digital now and vinyl 5/22.