Author: nathan.lankford

Mellow Groove from Paperhaus

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paprsWhen I think of DC, I always go straight to the punk roots of the city…still in love.  But, when listening to Paperhaus, I hear a band far from that…aside from the DIY aesthetic that has allowed the band to grow, crumble and rebuild. There’s this catchy groove, using a nice guitar pluck for some emphasis that works to offset the band’s slow-moving pace.  It reminds me of Austin’s Abram Shook running on-stage to join Built to Spill; I guess that’s a weird analogy, but I’m sticking to it. They’ll finally be releasing their debut LP, which is self-titled, on February 10th. Enjoy this ditty.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/paperhaus_soslow.mp3]

Download: Paperhaus – So Slow [MP3]

New Music from In Tall Buildings

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tallestbuiltIf you’re looking to make your 2015 interesting, musically speaking, then I’m imploring you to take a listen to this new track from In Tall Buildings, then schedule picking up Driver, the new LP, on its release. This latest single shows the craftsmanship in the songwriting, creating these intricate little layers that serve as prime ear candy. The breath-y quality of the vocals also adds an interesting touch; it’s one of the many reasons I think you’ll find yourself peeling back layer after layer when you get a chance to get your hands on the full length; Western Vinyl is putting it out on February 17th.

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This Nic Hessler Tune is Pretty

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nohomoThere’s this really soft quality to Nic Hessler.  There’s twinkling guitars walking back and forth, meeting up with Hessler’s distinct voice.  But, it’s also a pretty awesome power ballad.  Despite the song’s ability to sound flowery, it’s got these little touches to it that make the tune seem like it could be a great stomper live: cascading guitars, solos, banging drum parts.  I love when a band can bring something totally different to the live stage, so I’m excited to see what comes from Nic when his debut album, Soft Connections is released. Look for it on March 17th via Captured Tracks.

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Ski Lodge Return to Smooth Out the Edges

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skierIt’s been a bit since we’ve heard from Ski Lodge, and I’m glad to see the band’s return…I loved Big Heart.  While their first effort seemed to hold tight to the realm of indiepop, they look to go with a smoother, larger pop sound behind the efforts of main songwriter, Andrew Marr.  You’ll still hear huge harmonies and melodies bursting forth, though in a different fashion…those touches have been polished to sound more like a band working in a hi-fi studio. The “Trust” 7″ will be available for pop fans on February 23rd.

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Dutch Uncles Offer Quirky Dance Pop

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doubledutchSeems like Hot Chip‘s been rather quiet, so the next big thing for those that like nerdy dance music has to be Dutch Uncles.  They use some of the same touches, offering a main vocalist grooving over the top of gang vocals; it’s playful, which matches the musical approach of the group.  But, like my favorite dance music, I like the fact that there’s a prominent instrument featured here; you can hear the guitar knifing it’s way through the entirety of the track.  This tune will appear on the band’s new album, O Shudder, which will be added to an already packed February 24th via Memphis Industries.

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Another Tune from The Black Ryder

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unnamed (1)I’ve hit up the Black Ryder before, but today’s the day where I really hope you fall in love with the band. My favorite part of this song is the restraint shown in the carefully crafted atmospherics that back the tune; you could easily turn things up volume wise and make the track twice (or three times) as noisy.  But, in holding back, they provided the perfect space for the gentle coo of Aimee Nash, who maintains this incredible softness within.  It allows for the song to really reach the next level.  They’ll release The Door Behind the Door on February 24th via the Anti-Machine Machine.

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Did You Buy the New Milk Dick Cassette?

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dickmilkYesterday was new release day, and before the hellacious Tuesday of next week, things were slim-pickings.  So, if you’re a nerdy record store regular (I hope you are), you should have picked up this new cassette from Milk Dick.  They’re standout track on the release begins as sort of a folk song: gentle strum and vocals.  But, then they get sloppy fun, offering good times in a fashion that seems to blend modern rock tropes with Violent Femmes.  It’s a blast, so I hope you either grabbed it already, or pick it up from Infinity Cat.

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A Place to Bury Strangers Nail It

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strangeAfter some albums where I felt like A Place to Bury Strangers hit some middling ground, they finally nailed it, for me anyways.  The noisy propulsion of this track is remarkable, driving the song forward while the shadow of the vocals haunt you from the back of the mix.  It’s definitely a spin on modern psych music, utilizing the genres combination of noise juxtaposed to the softness, or subdued quality of the vocals, as is the case here.  This should make the release of the band’s new album, Transfixation, something to behold; it’s release date is set for February 17th courtesy of Dead Oceans.

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Sprawling Folk from Grand Lake Islands

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gliI’ve really really been enjoying listening to Song From Far, the new album from Grand Lake Islands.  There’s some long songs on there, but they sprawl and change, opening up new doors to your musical ears.  They’ve just offered up a new single, “Monterey,” in reference to California, not Mexico, and it’s another one of those tunes that rolls like the tumbleweed, kicked on by a solid drum background.  There’s a slight twang to the guitar work and the vocal has this natural warmth I’ve taken a liking to lately.  The new LP comes out next week via Good Mountain Records.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/03-Monterey.mp3]

Download: Grand Lake Islands – Monterey [MP3]

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