Bringing the jams
At this point, Slow Pulp should already be on your radar; they were picked by NPR as one of the Austin 100 to keep an eye out for SXSW. But, in case you’re not on the up and up, read below for some quick responses from the band as they make their way to Austin.
One of the hottest labels over the last several years has been PNKSLM, bringing us some of the best in Swedish rock n’ roll. We might even have a few of those bands popping up at Barracuda, say tomorrow, for free. But, for now, here’s Magic Potion…get to know them, then go see them!
The madness has begun here in Austin, and if last night’s turnout was any indicator, it’s going to be a crazy week for everyone. We have a few more interviews trickling in, so we wanted to be sure that Balms are on your radar as you make that final push towards SXSW.
What I wouldn’t do to have a band like Bad Moves in Austin. Catchy, progressive and a whole lot of fun live; I feel like you shouldn’t leave SXSW without seeing them at least two different times…but that’s just my humble opinion. They’ve graced us with some questionnaire responses, and you can read those below!
It’s been a few years since we’ve heard from Slowness (5 to be exact!), but they return with this track that burns its way into your subconscious. The chords have this light twinkle, but they’re open, creating this vast space from which they begin their sonic exploration. Some bits have long drawn out vocal bits, ethereal in their presentation, afloat in the mix as it billows through your speakers; other moments find the track bending and twisting their way through the song’s closing moments. This track appears on Berths, the band’s new album, out in April via Schoolkids.
The end of 2018 saw J Fernandez drop Occasional Din; we mentioned it on several occasions here. Well, he’s coming into Austin for the shenanigans, so let’s get right to the point! Here’s another SXSW interview for those folks out there putting together their list; let’s hope he’s on yours!
Last year Jonathan Bree gave us the brilliant Sleepwalking, but many in the States have never had a chance to see these tunes in the live setting. For me, Bree is at the top of my list of must-see acts during this week’s SXSW festival…and now we have a new video to reinforce that belief. This is one of the shorter tunes on the album, but it’s one that reminds me of the careful craftsmanship of Air, while looking upon the nostalgic history of lounge singers. He’ll be in Austin from the 13-17th, with shows every day…but if you’re not here, go grab Sleepwalking form Lil Chief Records.
Merely a day after Hash Redactor announced a new release via Goner, the two members that play in NOTS announced they’ve got their own new album on the way. It’s this pulsing bit of post-punk, filled with swirling guitars that have the potential to cause dizzying effects. In the vocals there’s this echoed distance, as if they’ve been recorded in some abandoned industrial warehouse, furthering the dark vibe at play here. Slimmed down to a three piece, the band doesn’t seem to have missed a beat, leading me to believe that good things are in store with 3; it drops on May 10th via Goner Records.
We’re just about a week away from Julia Rakel‘s EP release, so why not share another stellar number from indie fEElz. This track just reinforces the power of Rakel’s voice; she moves into the empty space left by the lush arrangements she’s crafted, filling it with these heavenly notes. Her range is strong, and I love the way she sort of hangs syllables in the air, then lets them fall quickly through the speakers. I think the last minute of this tune is quite special; it’s a drifting feeling accompanied by Rakel, fitting considering the art for the EP. It drops in full on March 15th via Rama Lama Records.
Sometimes you need a little bit of a sadness in your listening queue, so to check that box for your Thursday, I give you “Depression Song” from Paige Stark. Stark is a songwriter out of Los Angeles, and this track just feels like it should be in the background of a montage where someone is having an almost comically bad day. At any rate, Stark’s smoky vocals are the key part of “Depression Song;” they swirl around in the instrumentals in the slow moving mix as though they just happen to grace the song with their presence. There’s a great synth break down towards the end of the number, when Stark’s vocals cut out and just let the song ride out. There’s a lot of great reasons to fall deep into this “Depression Song.”
