Holy Wave – Five of Cups

For the past however many years, Holy Wave has been working in the Austin music scene, often times as the sort of bastard step-child of heavy-hitters the Black Angels, and sadly overlooked more often than not. Careful ears will have seen that the group have been gradually moving away from similarities, and Five of Cups is the perfect statement album, making the group a powerful beast all their own. Broke it down into track by track for you all, with some trite final thoughts at the end.

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Holy Wave Share New Single

If I went back about ten years to the first time we heard Holy Wave, I’ll be honest, I might not have expected them to end up where they are now, musically stepping outside of the traditional psych realm they long championed as part of the Austin scene. Their latest track, seems like you’ve taken some nod to a jazz-infused krautrock and blended it with the foggy atmospheric pop of acts like the Clientele; it feels like a track perfect for a day drenched in rain and clouds (something we’re not quite accustomed to down here in Austin!). My fascination really circles this incredible rhythm pulse it gives the song this thick life that allows the rest of the tune to swell and ebb; it’s a beautiful piece that has us really excited for Five of Cups, which is out August 4th via Suicide Squeeze. You can also check a video HERE (premiered by Post-Trash).

One More From Night Beats

Well unless you just straight up don’t read about the new tunes on our site, I’m sure you’ve seen my fandom around the upcoming LP from Danny Blackwell and his LA based project Night Beats. If you did miss it, go back and check out the albums lead banger “Hot Ghee,” the psych trip of “Thank You,” and the groovy one “Nightmare.” Once you’re done there, come on back for the last preview of the new album with this slow R&B melody of “Blue.” Hit play and melt into the beats.

All of these new tracks will appear on the new Night Beats album Rajan which is due out this Friday the 14th via Suicide Squeeze/Fuzz Club.

One more jam from Night Beats

It seems like this new album from Danny Lee Blackwell and his project known as Night Beats is going to be one of the surprise gems of the summer. Having already shared two hits with “Hot Ghee” back in April and “Thank You” last month, my buzz and excitement was already building. Now getting yet another jam today with this new track, “Nightmare,” I can definitely confirm that the new album is going to be a psych-rock meets disco, meets bee-bop banger, from start to finish.

The new Night Beats album Rajan is due out on July 14th via Suicide Squeeze and Fuzz Club. Pre-orders are live now.

Another New Jam From Night Beats

Our old pal Danny Lee Blackwell is having a bit of a resurgence in his career as he’s moved out to LA and is churning out some real gems under his Night Beats moniker. His latest hit, “Thank You,” is another tune that sort of defies a genre label or direct classification (which we are always here for). Sure we have the overt psych influence throughout, but you can also pick up soft touches of neo-soul or even some Southern gospel. As you undertake repeat listens and groove along with the beat, your sure to find some new layers to peel back and enjoy.

This track will appear on the new Night Beats album entitled Rajan which is due out on July 14th via Suicide Squeeze and Fuzz Club. Hit one of those links for pre-orders.

Night Beats Share Hot Ghee

Danny Lee Blackwell is a name most of you should know as he has been involved in a slew of bands in and around both Texas and his relocation home of Seattle. If you do not know him by name, you surely know his musical work under the moniker Night Beats. Now based out of sunny LA, you can surely hear the blend of geographical influences in his latest track called “Hot Ghee.” It certainly has these very subtle and faint touches of Texas twang in the vocals and guitar which flow beautifully within the overall California psych bop style. It’s a straight up jam.

Night Beats will release this track as part of a new album entitle Rajan which is due out on July 14th via Suicide Squeeze and Fuzz Club. Pre-orders should be live now.

Abraxas Share Sunrise State (Of Mind)

Abraxas is the psych pop duo of Carolina Faruolo (ex-Los Bitchos) and Lee Blackwell of Austin’s own Night Beats. With Faruolo bringing her Uruguayan roots of cumbia and psych rock, paired with Blackwell’s soul and R&B inspirations, the duo has managed to create their very own brand of cumbia/reggaeton vibing psych rock. What may sound like a mess of genres, comes across focused, playful and downright catchy as hell on the duo’s lead single “Sunrise State (Of Mind)”. Seriously, I think Blackwell and Faruolo have just created a whole new genre I’m calling cumbia psych. It’s a hell of a lot of fun.

Abraxas will be releasing a debut album entitled Monte Carlo on October 28th via Suicide Squeeze Records.

The Shivas Share Doom Revolver

I’m a big Shivas stan over here, though admittedly I’m still waiting for them to recreate the joy of “You Make Me Wanna Die.” Today, the band drop a fresh new burner for Suicide Squeeze‘s Single Series, Pinks and Purples. Slow and jammy, the song evolves into this psychedelic stomp of cool. The maniacal guitars set you up, but eventually fade into this mellower groove where the band’s pop sensibility unfolds with vocal harmonies. But, stick around long enough and they turn the slow burn into a riotous affair around the 1:40 mark; this is just many of the twist and turns the band are taking you on in these four minutes.

Another Michael Nau Single

Lots of good songs for your consumption today, but I feel like the soulful new single from Michael Nau is a good way to wrap up my day. It has a modern R&B feel, especially in the way it was recorded, meant to sound old school. I think Nau’s voice adds a nice balance, as he typically has more of a croon…though he stretches himself here, in a good way. Even with the throwback feel, it still manages to have a playful vibe that I’m sure will improve your day as you already look towards the weekend. Look for Some Twist via Suicide Squeeze on June 16th.

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Guantanamo Baywatch Aim to Keep Garage Rock Alive

While the spectre of garage rock still looms in the musical air, fewer and fewer acts are sticking to the genre at its purest (or as we ascribed it). Guantanamo Baywatch return with Desert Center, and just a slight hint at the sound they helped to repopularize. But, they’ve added a bit more boogie, a bit more soulfulness, all kicked on by the rolling drum work that opens the tune. There’s little musical stutters and exuberant shouts, and by the time the song hits its midway, you’ll be thinking that the band are perhaps as far removed as they could get themselves. Can’t wait to hear the new record, as these guys always have a secret hit or two saved for your ears until you buy the LP; it hits on August 4th via Suicide Squeeze.

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