Yep, This Chastity Belt Tune is a Winner (SXSW Artist)

chasteSome tracks, you press play, and you go back over and over again. No matter what, the song supersedes anything else in your listening rotation, which is precisely the case with this new track from Chastity Belt. It’s got just the right amount of bounce to it, combined with the dreamy quality of the vocals.  There’s a distance to the vocals, though that doesn’t prevent you from attaching yourself to the lyrics…and ultimately the tune.  Look for this hit and more on the band’s new album, Time to Go Home, being released by Hardly Art on March 24th.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Joke.mp3]

Download: Chastity Belt – Joke [MP3]

Digging This New Van Dale Jammer

vandWhen you press play on the tune below, you’re going to think it’s your run-of-the-mill indie rocker; it’s got a decent pace, but it’s mostly relaxed college rock (not that that’s bad by any means).  Still, you’ve got to hold on as Van Dale unleashes some crunchy guitar that brings a boisterous bit of noise to the typical affair.  It takes on a tone of what I always dreamed and hoped Weezer would become…they didn’t…so we’ve got these guys to bring it instead.  On March 31st, the trio will release their self-titled album via Fleeting Youth Records.

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Nerd Pop from Robot Princess

RobotPOur friends over at Fleeting Youth Records (buy local!) passed this tune from their latest signing, Robot Princess, my way, and I’ve been rocking it pretty loud.  I’m a huge fan of the playful style that fills the various verses in the track; it’s got nerdy narratives, which is a huge bonus for a dork like myself.  The chorus has crunchier distorted guitar, harkening back to glory days of good old college rock.  The label will be releasing the bands Teen Vogue LP and their new Action Moves EP together, in what I can only assume is a rad package on March 24th.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/11-Action-Park.mp3]

Download: Robot Princess – Action Park [MP3]

Fresh Aussie Pop from Crepes

creepsSome point last year, I got word of this rad little act growing in popularity in Australia: Crepes.  I wrote about them then, and I’ve just gotten word of a new single that’s going to delight all our listeners. “Stages of Fear” offers a bit of that traditional Aussie sound, but I think they definitely added a punch; the drums are harder and the energy has a bit more energy in the way the track glides along cooly.  This tune will be found on the band’s soon to be released debut EP; I’ll provide more details as those come my way.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/DSCciZA14uWJ.128.mp3]

 

Folk Strong from Trans Van Santos

unnamed-2It’s the perfect time for wistful country ballads to welcome in the Texas weather; I hope you’re getting some of this sunshine wherever we find you.  This new track from Trans Van Santos, the new project from Mark Matos, fits perfectly into my plan to venture to the furthest horizon this Spring.  Percussion is limited, guitar chords ring slightly and Matos offers a solemn vocal that hits home at the ATH offices. On March 17th you’ll find the key to your own long distance drive when Moon Mirage is released by Royal Oakie Tapes & Records.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/transvansantos_wildatheart.mp3]

Download: Trans Van Santos – Wild at Heart [MP3]

Ok. You Win Santiparro

unnamed-4Pretty sure this is the third Santiparro track that I’ve tossed up your way, but I think it’s deserved.  He’s a songwriter that pulls from my Americana heroes like Wilco, then builds his own version of the style, adding various textures that build the sound into something unique.  In fact, it leans more towards pop construction than simple Americana, so I get the best of both of my favorite worlds. We’re just a few short weeks away from his album, True Prayer, which hits on the 24th via Gnome Life Records. Will it be the last song of his I post before then? Time will tell.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/09-Where-Were-From.mp3]

Download: Santiparro – Where We’re From [MP3]

Dark Force of Beauty from RA

10931072_854818211237398_8019584073532237023_nA while back I brought out a heavy bit of gaze from RA, but I think this track’s going to be getting a lot more notice, as it’s quite similar to the work bands like Iceage have been promoting.  There’s a heavy-handed guitar creating a wall of reverberating noise, but there’s a sterile vocal that haunts the track, creating this dark emotion in that modern post-rock manner.  The tune sucks you in beneath it’s natural current, rolling you through it’s brooding sentiment until you find yourself fading out in the end.  It’s just another reason that people need to take note of the band’s forthcoming effort, Scandinavia, which hits on March 3rd via Adrian Recordings.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/03-The-Void.mp3]

Download – RA – The Void [MP3]

 

Indie Darlings Twin Peaks Get Ready with New Track

unnamedThis new tune from Twin Peaks was all over the Internet yesterday, so I felt like I would give you a chance to revisit it today.  On my first few spins, I can definitely tell that there’s a change in the winds, whether that’s temporary or permanent will be the question. They had a ramshackle Replacements feel on Wild Onion, but now they seem to be emulating a more folk-influenced groove…it’s something sunnier from the Cali side of songwriting.  The song does close out with a bit of a distorted guitar solo giving it an extra punch. As of now, it’s just a one off as they prep for a tour, so enjoy it…and we’ll hold out to see what direction the band heads in the future.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/In-The-Morning-In-The-Evening.mp3]

Download: Twin Peaks – In The Morning (In The Evening) [MP3]

Passenger Peru Ready New LP

peeI’m a little late to this tune, but I think listening to Passenger Peru will do you some good today.  There’s something quite interesting in the way the band construct their songs; they have this entrancing quality based on the rhythmic grooves they’ve created, akin to Finback, though heavier handed.  Still, those chugging riffs are offset by this really bright moment that bursts forth in the middle of tune.  Frankly, it’s exciting, as it’s far from you average piece of indie rock.  Their LP, Light Places, is set for release on February 24th via Fleeting Youth Records.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/03-The-Best-Way-To-Drown.mp3]

Download: The Best Way To Drown [MP3]

Digging This Pop from Solvey

zamboniJessica Zambri has had her hands on a lot of great things in the last year, most notably the latest release from Hooray for Earth.  She’s working on her own project, Solvey, and this song is stuck in my head; I can’t get it out. There’s always something about well-organized pop songs aided by huge string arrangements that really gets under my skin.  During the chorus there are huge symphonic stabs and Zambri’s voice hits all the perfect notes; these are my favorite moments of the song.  This is her first release under the name, which should see a release on new label, Killer Wail Records at some point during this year.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/01_Solvey_10.16.14.mp3]

Download: Solvey – Solvey [MP3]

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