Author: nathan.lankford

U.S. Highball Announce Debut LP

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I really needed these songs from Glaswegian act U.S. Highball, and feel even greater knowing they come with an album announcement, meaning more is on the way. There’s just this natural joyousness to the duo’s sound; I mean, the opening “Hall of Heads” is pretty much just a play on our tastes, but quickly turns into this delighting pop tune I can’t get out of my head. “Don’t Travel Far” is a little meatier; there’s jangling guitars, textured synth/beats and a really incredible use of melody that will keep me circling back just like their guitars. Speaking of said album, it’s titled Great Record, dropping on July 12th via Lame-O Records.


Sachet Share New Single

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When one ship sinks, sometimes a new ship sets sail, as is the case of Lani and Sam, who have embarked upon a new ocean voyage with Sachet…whilst their old band, Day Ravies lays at the bottom of the sea. Our first listen to the band’s new album has the group slicing up angular guitars licks like they’re going out of fashion. Lani’s vocals, however, offer this heavy dosage of pop sensibility, churning it into higher octaves to further the band’s lofty goals of hook-laden post-punk. They turn the song’s direction towards scuzzier pop methods around the 1:30 mark, only to circle back to wrap the tune up. This jam will appear on Nets, which drops in September courtesy of Tenth Court.

Stream III from Butcher the Bar

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Joel Nicholson’s been working as Butcher the Bar for some time, and in that period, he’s gone from solo to full band and probably back again…but for III, we get the full band pop bombast that’s always lived within the confines of Nicholson’s songwriting. There are straight upbeat pop numbers, and some more pensive tunes here, so just stream it below. You can grab the LP directly from Bobo Integral, and if you’re so inclined, you can read my thoughts about each song below.


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King Ropes Share California Stars

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For a brief five seconds, you’re tempted to hear this song as some sort of 90s rocker, but soon King Ropes pull away from that, giving off a brief little vocal blurb that resembles that one song from Butthole Surfers that everyone knows. Still, the song’s natural progression isn’t over, it plods slowly, allowing the natural melody in the vocals to build; the guitars and bass still have this ominous tone in the distance behind the voice Dave Hollier. The pinnacle is from the chorus with the line “those California stars they shine and shine;” it’s a sublime pop tidbit amidst a song that avoids the trappings of modern pigeonholing, never staying in one place long enough to bore the listener. This bodes well for Gravity and Friction, out on July 26th!

Fresh Tune from Lunar Gold

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We first met Jason Morris back in the early days of The Clouds are Ghosts, but over the past few years he’s really been focused on his Lunar Gold project…today we’ve got a new one from said project. Of late, the project has focused on crafting these thoughtful pop numbers, and this one is much the same. Morris’ voice has this angelic tone, accented by layered vocal accompaniment as it hangs gently in the air. Musically, there’s this understated elegance; it reminds me of the orchestral moves that Other Lives made…like a dreamscape that transports you to some celestial world. The band celebrate the release of their new single on June 21st over at Stay Gold!

Dreamy New Number from Sungaze

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Browsing through my emails on a Sunday as an electric storm rolled through Austin, I kept coming back to press play on Sungaze‘s latest single. It’s a tune that seems infinite, as if it’s able to escape the confines of present time; it drifts, casually, spiritually, carrying you on a cloud in and out of consciousness. Dream pop number such as this are rare, but the clear elegance of the band’s songwriting is definitely putting me in this otherworldly mood. Take a minute, or five, from your day, let your mind drift, let those troubles fall to the side and immerse yourself in this journey. I expect Light in All of It to let us all escape the world when it drops on July 19th (with an Austin tour date in one week!).

The Black Watch Share Mad Single

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If ever there was a band I wish more people cared about, it would be the work of The Black Watch. The group, helmed by JA Fredrick has been consistently prolific and consistently changing. Here on their latest single, familiar sounds abound, but Fredrick feels steadier than before, somehow; it’s as if he’s achieved self-awareness, and yet continues to push himself (and the band) forward. However you want to look at it, listening back through the years and playing this track over and over, you just get the feeling that it’s all clicked, it’s all reached this pinnacle moment in the band’s discography. I can’t wait to add Magic Johnson to the collection when it drops in August.

The Sour Notes Share New Single

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The Sour Notes, always adventurous, have decided they’re going to release their new album one 7″ at a time, and today we’ve got the latest single from the series for you to enjoy. This one should come as no surprise if you listened to their ambitious collection This Is Not Our Music; I mean, if you don’t hear Galaxie 500 in here, I don’t know what you’re thinking. I love the softness of Jared’s voice on this, matched up against the heavy riffs that sort of billow in and out of the mix. It’s the sort of slow churning pop music you wish they had at your middle school dance, so you could fall in love and feel totally cool while doing it. Austin folks can get their hand on the new 7″ on June 13th at Hotel Vegas for the release show!

Moist Flesh Release Total Erosion of Meaning

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Remember when we released David Israel’s The Year That Felt Like Two? Well, the drummer for that project (Julia [Gulia] Hungerford)is also the drummer behind this gorgeous new Moist Flesh. For starters, Johnny Hillbun’s voice is flooring me as I listen back through it; at times it has this deep operatic tone, while I can also hear this slow churning country sound. Musically, it’s a contemplative album, allowing you plenty of space to let your mind wander, hanging on Hillbun’s notes or those guitar lines that dangle at the end of the world. It’s this broad-sweeping brilliant pop album, the sort I can just feel that Austin will overlook, so here’s to hoping some of you outside our bubble fall in love with Total Erosion of Meaning.

Christian Paul Philippi Shares Oahu 97

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LA based Christian Paul Philippi caught me completely by surprise; I didn’t know anything about the songwriter other than he has an LP coming out on Forged Artifacts in late June. A few rounds of listening and its clear that we’ve got a new pop balladeer to fawn over; Philippi offers this natural softness in his voice, like he’s singing you to sleep. Behind that voice he’s textured the track with layered guitars, some strumming and some shooting off like stars in the distant night sky…it’s even closed out with this sort of brilliant ambiance. Strangely, the song leaves you feeling satisfied, charmed, which works in contrast with the thematic element of the lyrics. Grab a little joy here; Gem will be out June 28th via FA.

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