This is fine.
I know very little about North Carolina band Roman Candle, but I do know that I really dig this track “They Say”. I would dare say that we may have missed this one when discussing our songs of summer. This song appears on the band’s most recent release Oh Tall Tree in the Air which hit stores back in May. If you like this one, you can stream more tracks from the band on their website.
Download: Roman Candle – They Say [MP3]
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Let’s face it, Nic Thorburn just churns out the tracks, time and time again. Last year he threw Arm’s Way at us, and then backed it up with another solid outing under Human Highway. Now, his buddy Jaime Thompson, another ex-Unicorn, has rejoined Islands to record Vapours.
One thing you’ll notice as soon as you press play on this disc, or touch the needle to the record, is that the guitar has seemingly disappeared. Sure, Nic and Jaime have always had an affection for oddities included upon their work, but after all the guitar work Nic put into his last few releases it seems odd that he would leave it off. “Switched On” just seems like a collection of drum loops with Thorburn’s vocals patched atop. Don’t get me wrong, the vocals are great as usual, with Nic’s unique inflection and range, but there’s just a lacking of punch.
“No You Don’t” also has a danceable jive all over, which will no doubt get you moving your shoes, but the minimal guitar work makes this seem like an entirely electric affair. Still, you’ll find that the electronic affair clears out enough space for “Vapours” to enter the room. It comes across as the first song to fully utilize the guitar, miming the sound of Albert Hammond Jr., intentionally or not. And as the album winds its way to the end, you’ll find that more traditional songwriting does take place, just don’t expect it to be nearly as prevalent as the last effort; this may be good, as many people thought the last one was a bit too self-indulgent.
“Tender Torture” is personally one of the more rewarding songs. Washing over the song is a mass collection of samples and beats, but Nic maintains his domineering presence throughout, and you just can’t ignore the man’s voice. It’s one of the most remarkable, and he pushes it through various different notes, both high and low on this tune.
And really, up to this point, all the songs are pretty enjoyable, each offering various things for various listeners. Upbeat danceable songs countered with mellow electronic soundscapes. Honestly, it’s really reminiscent of Kevin Barnes move after he changed up from Satanic Panic in the Attic and then went to Sunlandic Twins. Could this be a climatic change for Islands as it was for Of Montreal? Only time will tell.
But, one thing going against this record is the way that it drags on towards the end. It suffers from an odd sequencing, much the way Arms Way just wore you out by the end. All in all, this new Islands effort is something that you’ll find rewarding, and ultimately you’ll uncover various secrets for you as a listener as time goes on. Vapours is an album that shows the group who always seem to change, still changing; only time will tell how this will pan out for the group.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Islands-Vapours.mp3]Download: Islands – Vapours [MP3]
In this edition of ACL Spotlight we will be taking a look at one of the most overlooked names in indie rock: John Vanderslice. Follow the jump for more.
Eccentric folk singer songwriter Devendra Banhart has been a bit quiet in the music world as of late, but he’s about to release another album of new material. His new LP will be called What Will Be and is hitting stores October 27th via Warner Bros. Here’s first glimpse of that new album with “Baby”. Anyone want to offer some first impressions?
Download: Devendra Banhart – Baby [MP3]
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Speaking of collaborations, Wisconsin’s Volcano Choir brings together Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) and Collection of Colonies of Bees (which features former members of the mighty Pele).
The nine tracks that make up their JagJaguwar debut, Unmap have more in common with ambient music than either of Volcano Choir other parts. Using tape loops and minimal vocals, and restrained traditional instruments Unmap plays more like a score to a film than a traditional indie rock release. That’s not to say that it’s not good, because it is.
What is so bold about this mostly quiet record is the lack of traditional vocals. You would think having the current indie golden boy, Justin Vernon, in the band you would feature him prominently in as many tracks as possible, Volcano Choir do quite the opposite with only two of the nine songs having traditional vocal arrangements (Island, IS and Still). It’s no surprise that these tracks are the glue that holds this whole release together. You’ve previously been introduced to Island, IS, but you might surprised how familiar with Still you might be. You probably remember it as the autotune (take it easy, Jigga!) vocal track, Woods, at the end of Bon Iver’s Blood Bank EP, but here it backed up with a full band. I must admit, I like this version better.
The rest of the songs rely on the human voice as an instrument, an additional layer to the already lush soundscape. Many bands have attempted such things before and it has always come off as pretentious and over produced, luckily that is not the case on Unmap. The songs on Unmap come across as an organic progression of a group of individuals who have a true passion for the music they are producing.
For some this record will be hard to get into, but if you just give it some time you will be greatly rewarded.
[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/03-island-is-1.mp3]Download: Volcano Choir – Island IS [MP3]
| Date | 9/23/09 |
|---|---|
| Location | Antones |
| Doors | 8pm |
| Tickets | $15 from Front Gate |
It’s been some time since we posted about a White Denim show and we’re excited to see the incredible live band on the bill for Wednesday night at Antones. Hot new artist band Harlem will also be taking part in the night’s event. On the subject, here’s a new track from White Denim called “Wet Sand” that went up a few days ago.
[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/White-Denim-Wet-Sand.mp3]Download: White Denim – Wet Sand [MP3]
So we’ve just heard news that WOXY, Voodoo Cowboy Entertainment, and Rare Magazine are joining forces to put on an ACL after party featuring Canadian supergroup Broken Social Scene. The event will be taking place at the Seaholm Power Plant on the first night of ACL (10/2). Things will get started at 10pm and the event is totally free! RSVP here. I’m going to dare say that you might want to show up early if you plan on getting in. Stay tuned for information on what they have planned for Saturday night.
Man, this song seemed like it was everywhere today, popping up on Pitchfork and Stereogum, so lets just throw it out there…what a rad song. Fresh and Onlys have just released their album Grey-Eyed Girls, and you can’t help but love some of the tunes off this one. It’s chock full of solid hits, which definitely makes the album worthy of your purchase. Check it.
Download: The Fresh And Onlys – Dude’s Got A Tender Heart [MP3]
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If you were hard pressed to find our generations Tom Waits, a deserving nominee would be the Castanets main singer/songwriter Ray Raposa. Raposa’s vocal delivery is more akin to Will Oldham’s than Waits’ own whiskey-soaked growl, but the ability to change his bands, Castanets, persona from release to release is downright Waitsian. Raposa’s work in the Castanets has been called everything from noise to freak folk, but, to these ears, the Castanets, like Waits, is pure American music.
On the bands most recent Asthmatic Kitty release, Texas Rose, The Thaw and The Beast, the Castanets have made one of the most consistent releases in their career. It’s hard to describe this release, so if you wouldn’t mind humoring me for a bit I will explain what I see in my head as I listen to this album: imagine an almost dead planet with a sole survivor (stick with me!). This sole survivor, let’s call him Ray, composes a set of songs about all that he has lost. From the opening track, ‘Rose’, he sings about a lost love and falling in love with the world and in the closing refrain sings “I am left here to worship on my own”. The record flows seamlessly from one track to another, sometimes allowing for vast open spaces without ever being boring.
In it’s short 39 minutes, Texas Rose, the Thaw and the Beast traverses from the tuneful Americana of ‘Rose’, the clipped beats of ‘Worn From the Fight(with Fireworks)’, the booze-soaked dirge ‘No Trouble’, and Phil Collins-esque ‘Lucky Old Moon’ (some how, with that description, this song is fantastic). I know this sounds like an eclectic blend of styles, but trust me, it works better than you could ever imagine.
Ray Raposa and his Castanets have not only released a cohesive album of Southern Gothic hymns, but also a truly enjoyable listening experience in Texas Rose, the Thaw and the Beast. This is a night-driving must.
[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/01-Rose-1.mp3]Download: Castanets – Rose [MP3]
It seems like these new live performance blogs are the hot new thing as a new one pops up almost weekly. This new one we just found is called Luxury Wafers and has already featured some solid in-studios by Cursive, These United States, Tiny Vipers, and several others. This one comes from Long Island band As Tall as Lions. Video and MP3s of their performance can be found on the Luxury Wafers website or we’ve got a taste of it below.
Download: As Tall As Lions – We’s Been Waiting (live) [MP3]
