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We are in full on SXSW preparation mode at this point ladies and gentlemen! This is officially your last weekend before things really start to go down next week with great tech, education and film things going on around town. Then we go full force into music week right after that. GET READY. Continuing our SXSW interview series today is another one from the lads in Beatenberg. Hit the jump for all the deets.
Already hung out in Olympia earlier this week, so why not set ourselves up with another great Olympian band, Waves Crashing. Today, the band drop their fresh The Viewing EP, which is an essential collection for those into the modern shoegaze sounds. They play with dissonant noise swirling in the background, then tie it to the melody that runs through each track’s central; it reminds me a lot of Austin’s Blushing, albeit with a male vocal. Standout tune “Life on Display” has this thumping rhythm, almost bouncing through your speakers. I love how the group also seem tied to the Pacific Northwest sounds of the late 90s, particularly when you hear a song like “Voices” that carry a bit of charming softness. Give it a listen, and if you buy it through bandcamp, you get gifted a bonus track!
Pushing forward and the SXSW emails are coming in fast and furiously. So, hopefully if you’re in the same boat, you’ll take a little time in your day to rest and and read about Dropper, one of the acts making their way to SXSW this year. They’ll likely be filling thheir set with hits from last year’s Don’t Talk to Me, with hopefully some new tunes in the works as well. The usual set of questions, giving you the chance to know what could be your next favorite band.
If ever there was a band that deserved the full reissue treatment, it’s Heavenly. Luckily, the band have opted to handle these reissues on their own Skep Wax label, with indiepop classic Le Jardin de Heavenly the next up on the list of releases. This record is the one most adored, and admittedly, it does have my absolute favorite song from the band “So Little Deserve” in the tracklist (I’m still partial to Heavenly vs Satan though!). The original LP was co-released by K Records and Sarah Records, so you can clearly hear the impact of early DIY pop in these songs. This is one that can’t be missed, so be sure to order your copy from Skep Wax; it should arrive to you around May 12th!
Those in the Aussie scene surely know of Troon Lienard, an outsider pop artists for some time, but for those not hip to his work, we’re bringing new of fresh tunes from Expensive Music Band to you all today. Troon’s joined by a who’s who of the underground scene overseas, fleshing out the core of this tune with this insatiable little bob and weave. As many things Troon’s been spinning, there’s a wry sense of humor, with this song taking aim at the trope of the glamorous rock n’ roll lifestyles (nee RNR). Take that DIY ethos, a fashionable sense of pop, then throw it in with a pinch of quirkiness and a heady groove, and you’ve got the hit below…all courtesy of Permanent Slump/Exclusive Culture.
We ready, are you ready? Somehow it is March and now officially THE month of SXSW is upon us. If you are feeling unprepared, we are here to try and get things in order for you with our annual previews of artists coming into town in a couple of weeks. Today I am pleased to share with you some answers from Montreal based group Le Couleur. You can see everything after the jump.
It seems like today is as good a day as any to spend our time in the Oceanic region of Australia, especially when there’s new music to be heard from Lachlan Denton. Long has he been adored songwriter on this site, but with his forthcoming album, Furnishings, on the horizon, there seems to be this acceptance and maturity in his craft. For instance, atop the buoyant vibe of the music, Denton weaves a promise of finding comfort in the ones you love and riding out whatever storms may approach; it’s not going to be filled with sunshine and rainbows, but you whatever end we all meet should be done with friends. It’s good to see friends Snowy and Curtis also make an appearance in the video, a seeming documentary on a day in the life of Lach. And as he’s done with his tunes of late, there’s a nice punch burst just after the two minute mark. Furnishings drops on April 14th via Bobo Integral/Spunk/Osborne Again.
As we await the release of the new Terry LP, we’ll have to make do with the fresh singles they sprinkle in the interim. Their latest single reminds me of that late 90s/early 00s era of indie rock, particularly in the way the horns are used to buoy the rhythmic bounce at the song’s center; it frankly reminds me a bit of Beulah, bringing in a bit of fuzz and groove to the indie sphere. Of course, Terry have a unique manner of delivering the vocals, so that aids in the way the group crafts their hook for listeners. Call Me Terry will hit on April 14th via Upset the Rhythm.
