Tag: spirals of silence

Angelo de Augustine – Spirals of Silence

angeloRating: ★★★★☆

Angelo de Augustine is sure to be a name everyone whispers behind your back for a few years.  His work is so unassuming that it’s likely to be skipped over by many, to their detriment, as it’s a listen that people will praise from the darkened corners of coffee shops, spreading the gospel beyond until everyone scours Discogs in search for a copy of Spirals of Silence.

It’s going to be difficult for people to look beyond the Elliot Smith references, especially after listening to the opening two tracks, “Old Hope” and “Collections.” Quiet whispers in the vocal quality and even the sound of the strings being plucked are definitely similar, but there’s still some tiny nuances that allow Angelo to find a path all his own.  That being said, if you’re an Elliot fan, then you should find yourself listening to “Collections.”

An instance where I see de Augustine making his own path on Spirals of Silence if on “The Beginning and the End.”  There’s a fragility to the vocal for sure, but there’s also this careful bit of intricate work filling in the empty space beneath the guitar lines.  Sometimes it’s touches of bells or strings, but it comes off sounding more like a field recording as opposed to an ode to the Beetles. It’s those moments that provide a certain level of intimacy that we don’t always find in our musicians, and it seems to be on every track Angelo has left us with.  If you need another example of such quality, then “Tucked in at Home” is another place you’ll find this insight into the soul of the musician. I love the light little “do do do” moments that fill in near the middle of the track; it’s playful yet wholly personal.

I’m still finding myself entranced with “You Open to the Idea.”  It was the first track I experienced from Spirals of Silence, and thus, it’s been the one I’m particularly fond of.  I love the way Angelo rises and falls in pitch and tone within the track; it also never hurts to have a really faint bit of tinkering piano in the far off distance of the song. Still, I encourage you to do your own exploration of the record, as each time I spin it, I find something different and new lurking in the background, or even in front of my face.  It’s a record that’ll make you lost, looking for the key to its secrets, and in the end, it’s just a nice bit of songwriting. Cheers to that, and Angelo de Augustine.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/07-You-Open-To-The-Idea.mp3]

 

 

Another Soft Track from Angelo de Augustine

Spirals-Of-Silence1-608x608Man. I really have been craving some good soft tunes to ease me into the fall, or lack there of.  This new album from Angelo de Augustine has been doing the trick pretty well, offering up some really incredible tunes.  It’s not necessarily sad bastard music, though there’s an intimacy in the way the music has been recorded that likens Angelo to Elliot Smith (as I’ve mentioned before). You can even hear the buzz on the strings, which is always a favorite touch of mine.  Look for his album Spirals of Silence on November 18th.

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Quieted Folk from Angelo De Augustine

spiralzIt’s been years, and I hate to even bring it up, but where’s the next Elliot Smith in this world? If I’m going to throw a name into the hat, it might just be Angelo de Augustine.  I’m not saying that they sound exactly alike, as there’s no fun in that, but there are similarities in the recordings and the intimacy.  There’s a soft touch that makes its way to your heart, and few artists can pull that off.  I know my hopes are high here, but there’s a special place in my heart reserved for music of this sort, so I’m eager to see what the entirety of his Spirals of Silence LP sounds like.  Take a quiet spin today, and pick up the album on November 18th.

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Angelo de Augustine Offers Brilliantly Quiet Tune

angelAs we all move into the work week, some of us might find things moving rather slowly, and we accept that.  That brings us to this really gentle tune (that’s really the best descriptor) from Angelo de Augustine.  I know that some other outlets have offered their two cents, but I’m just enchanted by the intimacy here; it reminds me of some of the early workings of Peter and the Wolf (perhaps with a hint of ES vocal lightness).  The young lad will be releasing his debut Spirals of Silence on November 18th for all to hear.  Simple and seductive.

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