New Jam from Fanzine

One of the places I frequently troll for new music tipped me off to this great little London act, Fanzine, They also alluded to a possible signing with Fat Possum, which wouldn’t seem out of line after they picked up Yuck last year.  The group are self-releasing their Low EP, and there’s definite gems for you to enjoy.  Whether you want a slow-pace pop ditty or a nice upbeat stomper, you can find it on this short EP.  One things for sure, the band has the hooks, seemingly, to write a great track, so I’m sure we’ll hear more from them in the future.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/02.-Fanzine-Rocket-Fuel.mp3]

Download: Fanzine – Rocket Fuel [MP3]

New Club Hit from Super Melody

At the beginning of August I brought you a nice little number from Super Melody, the new project from James, formerly of Architecture in Helsinki. His debut, Destination Unknown, is slated to hit stores next week.  You’re going to really dig this record if you’re into the sort of thing Chromeo does to the dance floor.  It’s definitely got that electronic-R&B vibe, meant to get you moving.  Considering its Friday, we should all put our dancing shoes on now, moving on into the long Labor Day weekend.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/3.-Worker-Bee.mp3]

Download: Super Melody – Worker Bee [MP3]

Blood Orange – Coastal Grooves

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Dev Hynes changes names like most of us change pants, you know, once or twice a week.  First there was Test Icicles, then Lightspeed Champion, and now Blood Orange.  While names may come and go, Dev will always be the same, and Coastal Groove, his new record, finds him sort of running in place, albeit a more 80s influenced place.

When “Forget It” hits your speakers, those familiars won’t find too much different than the most recent Lightspeed Champion record.  But, the slightest nuance can change things; you’ll notice a more electronic beat driving the track, but Dev’s sultry voice is always front and center.  Moving right into “Sulphin Boulevard” will have you catching the essence of the entirety of Coastal Grooves.  There’s a delicateness to every musical note, breathing sexuality over electronic down-tempo tunes a la Twin Shadow.

It’d be real easy to throw lots of Prince allusions throughout this first record by Blood Orange, especially if you catch the vocal performance on “Instantly Blank,” but that’s probably selling Hynes short, as he’s always had this odd combination of indie rock and R&B; this is one of the reasons I’ve always adored his work. But, for the majority of the record this sort of feels like his attempt at mediocre bedroom pop, and that might not be his foray; if you strip him of his orchestration, he seems less dramatic, less artistic even.

One of the saving graces about Mr. Hynes is that he’s always been fairly open about his projects, willing to do pretty much anything he’s asked, just for the sake of it.  That being said, there are some successful tracks that I’ve found myself jamming to throughout the day, such as “The Complete Knock” with its steady stuttering guitar line kicking off a nice little groove throughout. “Are You Sure You’re Really Busy” seems like the track where he could take off into a different level, as the drama in his voice, wavering ever so slightly gives this track an extra step above the rest of Coastal Grooves.

For what it’s worth, this isn’t a bad record at all; I’ve heard much worse (from the Foo Fighters) this year alone. Yet, having followed Dev for quite some time now, I can’t help but be a little let down by the entire Blood Orange project.  He’s missing something here, such as his orchestration or his flare for spinning words into new melodies mid-word.  Coastal Grooves seems to lose a bit of focus, turning out the same guitar line over and over, but I’m still going to get into it over time because that’s just what Dev deserves.

New Music from Martin John Henry

If you ever had the chance to listen to Scottish group DeRosa then you are probably just as excited as I am to hear new music from Martin John Henry, one of the group’s principal songwriters before their demise.  He’s been working on solo stuff, and we’re finally going to have a release, with The Other Half of Everything being released in the UK in October.  On first listen, there’ a whole lot of Malcolm Middleton, though I hate to pigeonhole the entire singer/songwriter genre of Scotland–still, it’s not a bad thing by any means.  It’s precisely the pleasant listening experience you’d come to expect from the cover art picture to the left.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/01-Breathing-Space.mp3]

Download: Martin John Henry – Breathing Space [MP3]

More New Tunes from Dominant Legs

We’ve talked about Dominant Legs for some time, and more music just seems to come our way concerning the outfit.  They’ll be offering up their debut, Invitation, on September 27th via Lefse Records.  On this track, you can definitely feel the airy quality in the songwriting, giving a sense of lightness to the group’s sound.  That little bit of pop you need can easily be found as the song moves in and out, with Ryan Lynch’s vocals holding your attention as steady rhythm beats perfectly in sync with the tracks mood. This record has been playing a lot in my house, and soon you’ll find it’s a huge part of your daily rotation too.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/02-Where-We-Trip-The-Light.mp3]

Download: Dominant Legs – Where We Trip The Light [MP3]

Show Preview: The Men @ Emos (9/1)

Date Thursday, Sept. 1st
Location Emos
Doors 900p
Tickets $8 from Ticketweb

This year I seem to be in the mood to really rock, or at least to mildly rock, in so much as I just can’t go full-on metal.  That being said, one of the band’s I’ve really enjoyed is NY’s The Men (not to be confused with the Le Tigre side-project).  They’ll be bringing their bit of raucous noise our way in support of their latest album Leave Home, which came out earlier this year on Sacred Bones. Also, another excellent band on the bill is Grave Babies, who have just put out a nice little 7″ by our dear friends over at Hardly Art.  As the season begins to really pick up steam for rock n’ roll, this is just as good a place as any to get your rocks on.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/themen-bataille.mp3]

Download: The Men – Bataille [MP3]


Total Babes – Swimming Through Sunlight

Rating: ★★★☆☆

When press first came out for Total Babes, a lot of attention was given to the fact that it featured a member of Cloud Nothings, and to a certain extent, that’s a fair association, as the similarities are definitely visible. However, Swimming Through Sunlight, the band’s debut on Old Flame Records isn’t just a re-imagining; it stand up on its own merit.

If you’re looking for a catchy lo-fi hook, you won’t have to look beyond the first song, as “Like They Always Do” features a chorus that grabs you while the noise distortion swells in the background.  It’s a quick hammering, not staying around too long for fear of giving you a little bit too much sugar. But, while this shares that affinity for noisy-garage pop a la the aforementioned association, the next track, “Be So Sure” shows resemblance to another lo-fi pop band, The Thermals (it’s not just me is it?).  Perhaps the vocals could be cleaned up a bit more on the recording, but it definitely has that sweetness mixed nicely with a bit of excessive noise, just like Hutch would want it.

One of the best things about listening to Swimming Through Sunlight is that you can see various touches of the modern musical landscape, but the inherent melodies and songwriting enable to group to move beyond pure mockery.  “Someone to Blame” sounds an awful like Wavves at their best, even featuring a similar lyrical style, using simple words to convey a message.  I suppose that various sources can knock the group for a lack of originality, but you can easily look beyond that once you get to the core of the songs.  They’re not too long, giving you just a taste of their glory, then moving on, asking you to revisit at a later point.

Personally, I would like to see Total Babes revisit the studio with a bit more of a polish and sheen.  For instance, there’s a brightness to the opening guitar line in “Without Your Heart,” but that clarity eventually parts for a grittier sound.  This isn’t entirely a bad thing, as it serves its purpose in a great deal of the tracks featured on the record, but a certain sharpness could really propel these songs to the next level.  Even in the closer, “Tip of My Tongue,” there’s this incredible element of pop, but it’s buried so far beneath the mix that it comes off sounding more like a demo than a final product.  It’s the slightest difference between an incredible song and just a really good one.

All in all, Swimming Through Sunlight is full of bright spots, and its clear that the songwriting is far more than just your moderate fare, but Total Babes still have a bit of work to do in the finished product.  Clear vocals here, bit of distortion removed there, and you’ve got a wonderful record full of memorable hooks, sing-a-long moments, and enough power to kick the rest of the genre in the face; looking forward to that day!

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/02-be-so-true.mp3]

Download: Total Babes – Be So True [MP3]

Show Preview: Olivia Tremor Control @ the Mohawk (8/31)

Date Wednesday, August 31st
Location Mohawk
Doors 630PM
Tickets $10 from Frontgate

If you’ve been listening to indie rock for the last two decades or so, you’ve probably heard of Olivia Tremor Control.  They’re part of the Elephant 6, the collective that spawned Neutral Milk Hotel and Of Montreal.  They’ll even have Music Tapes opening the show, another band associated with NMH.  Now, Jeff Mangum probably won’t be there, but you’ll still get to see a bit of history, not to mention some great music.

If you’re not into the band’s sound, you can also catch local acts such as Grape St. or Leatherbag rocking across town as well.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/otc1997-03-19t13.aiwa_.flac16.mp3]

Download: Oliva Tremor Control – Holiday Surprise 1 [MP3]

More New Music from Light for Fire

Last month I brought you an incredible track from Light for Fire, and they’ve just pushed out another little single for the masses.  This time around, they give you a bit more of a folk-troubadour sound, but you know that’s never a bad thing in our book.  It seems that every track this band puts out just begs to be played over and over again, regardless of where you are.  Their self-titled album is out now, and available for your pleasure, so take my advice, as this is a collection of songs that won’t leave your record player for some time.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/thehuckster.mp3]

Download: Light for Fire – The Huckster [MP3]

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