I’m Enjoying Elvis Depressedly

elvisdepressedlyPlease pay attention to the punctuation here, I’m listening and enjoying Elvis Depressedly. Not, as it might be misconstrued listening to Elvis, Depressedly.  The South Carolina group is another project from Mat Cothran, the man behind this year’s beautiful Coma Cinema release.  This project is more of a full group, though the construction is still fairly minimal. Earlier this year the group put out Holo Pleasures 7″ EP, which is just now making it’s way into my hands.  I’m pretty sure Cothran’s voice can do me no wrong at this point. You should rush out and donate to the cause, picking up the group’s EP…it’s currently at the name your own price special.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/elvis-depressedly-holo-pleasures-02-pepsi-coke-suicide.mp3]

Download: Elvis Depressedly – Pepsi/Coke Suicide [MP3]

 

Rose Melberg Is In a Lot of Really Good Bands…like Imaginary Pants

imaginaryRose Melberg is in a lot of really good bands folks.  One that I’ve taken a particularly liking to has been Imaginary Pants, who released a 7″ earlier this summer, unbeknownst to me.  But, I’m on it now! It’s hard to follow that lady’s prolific writing! But, the group has offered up their new Imaginary Pants 7″ for free download, though I suggest you support the cause and pick it up from Rok Lok Records. Of course, I’m going to stick with my theme for today by posting the slower song, though there’s a more upbeat track on the flip-side.  Sure, I’m late on this, but how can I not write about great pop tracks?

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Imaginary-Pants-Imaginary-Pants-7-01-Channels.mp3]

Download: Imaginary Pants – Channels [MP3]

Breathe Owl Breathe To Release New Album: Passage of Pegasus

PrintThere must be something in the water this week, forcing me to let go of my angst temporarily and revel in wonderful sad bastard music.  It’s true, you probably wouldn’t describe Breathe Owl Breathe as playing purely in that vein, but this track surely has a down-trodden feel to it.  Part of me hears bits of Silver Jews, though part of me hears the faintest Jarvis Cocker drawl in the vocals; I like both.  On this track, the attention to detail is executed perfectly, whether it’s the quieted drums or the light touches of strings.  You’ll be able to find this song on Passage of Pegasus, which comes out on October 15th.

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Gentle Pop from Cate Le Bon

cateGod, I just absolutely love Cate Le Bon.  When I first caught her live, I was mesmerized by the strength in her voice, despite walking on stage with little more than a guitar and a microphone; it was a feeling I think was shared by many.  Cate’s back now with a brand new single, featuring the marvelous voice of Perfume Genius to accompany her.  It’s such an unassuming beauty that I think I’ll play it throughout the day, and I hope you do too.  She’s teamed up with Wichita Recordings to release her latest collection of songs, Mug Museum, which will see a release on November 12th; if it’s all this good, it’s going to be something truly special.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/01-I-Think-I-Knew-feat.-Perfume-Geni]

Download: Cate Le Bon – I Think I Knew (feat. Perfume Genius) [Mp3}

Beautiful Pop from The Starfolk

TheStarfolk123a02.115320Really well managed harmonies in the midst of pristine pop songwriting is really what gets me going.  Bands like Nada Surf and Sloan have always had a heavy rotation on my stereo, so it seems fitting that I can now add The Starfolk to that last list.  I’ve encountered some really incredible songs this week, but this one’s on its way to stealing the cake.  There’s a light ringing guitar that carefully floats along, whilst male, and backing female, vocals gently rest in the foreground; it doesn’t hurt that there’s this wonderful string arrangement in the middle of the track. The band’s self-titled record comes out on September 10th via Korda Records.

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New Music from The Band In Heaven

bandinheavenMan, I’m really stuck on the latest record from The Band in Heaven; it’s titled Caught in a Summer Swell, and it’ll see a release on September 17th.  For me, this song is great in the way it carefully jingles the guitar lines a la Explosion in the Sky.  While the song begins to unfold, it takes on that drifting quality of shoegaze meets folk music, taking on more emotional power as a female vocal enters into the picture for accompaniment. From there the song cascades carefully with a jagged guitar line that’s joined by that pinpoint line from the beginning of the track.  This is just one example of all the tricks the group has up their sleeves for your ears.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/10-Farerwell-Summer.mp3]

Download: The Band In Heaven – Farerwell Summer [MP3]

I’m Enjoying the Latest from Hot Vestry

hotOne of our readers pointed me in the direction of Manchester’s Hot Vestry, which has rumored links to New Order.  For me, I like the way the band switch up from a light-hearted approach in the beginning to a bit of a darker sound within an instant.  Listening to the group’s latest Tell Me How It’s Done EP, I dug this track the most due to just that, as most of the songs have a more aggressive electronic sound.  I’ll admit, I’m not one-hundred percent sold on the vocals, but this track’s pretty special, so I reckon I should offer it up your way. It’s out now via Shedhead Records.

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Welcome Back Dean Wareham

deanOkay, so Dean Wareham hasn’t totally disappeared from the musical landscape, but this new single is his first solo outing…and the first I’ve heard from him in quite a long time (aside from those Galaxie 500 re-issues). There’s just something so incredible about his voice; it’s accented by a faint female vocal on this new single.  As usual, the musical accompaniment is down-trodden, but maintains an inner beauty, especially when you listen to the tinkering piano and string work in the distance.  I think I’ll head off and listen to old G500 releases all day, while I wait for the release of Emancipated Hearts, Dean’s solo mini-LP.

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Austin Spotlight: New(ish) Tune from Gender Infinity

genderFor those who’ve been following Red Hunter over the last few years, I hope you’ve noticed that he’s now working full-time with a band, known from here on out as Gender Infinity.  The group has just put up the 9 Lives EP, which you can buy digitally or get a hand-drawn CD.  I chose this track from the collection because I think it illustrates the magic of fleshing things out into full band sound.  The interplay between male/female vocals is heartfelt, rather than applied for kitsch and modernity. Listen and be warmed.

Psychedelic Jam from New Electric Ride

NEROne of the little labels that I’ve taken a liking to over the last year or so is Beyond is Beyond is Beyond.  They first caught my attention with Prince Rupert’s Drops, but I’m really excited by their signing of UK band, New Electric Ride. While there are definite touches of psychedelia in this tune, with perhaps even a nod to the Doors, I’m particularly liking the actual verses.  There’s something about the softness of the vocal that I find really enjoyable, especially when it’s backed up to the deeper vocals of the chorus.  The band will be releasing their debut with the label this Winter.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/102968941″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

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