Category: News

Show Pics: The Psychedelic Furs @ ACL Live (7/15)

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…with The Chameleons.

I was out and about earlier this week for a show at ACL Live featuring a couple more bgray throwback bands. If someone mentions The Psychedelic Furs, your mental soundtrack may jump at a movie soundtrack hit. I happen to think of the darker tail end of new wave that crossed over into post-punk. Being at a show where there are equal numbers of people are unironically wearing Wham! shirts as there were wearing Sisters of Mercy shirts is about the best description of the Psych Furs split personality. “Pretty In Pink” and “Heartbreak Beat” versus “Love My Way” and “No Easy Street”, pop bangers to introspective mourning.

Opening the show, The Chameleons have their core back together. You may know them as The Chameleons UK due to publishing issues, Chameleons Vox due to the breakup, but they’re back at it. I caught a bit of Mark Burgess playing solo during SXSW, but the full band experience, getting Smithies and Burgess back at it, is what I wanted. Got it. If you don’t know the band well, have a listen to Script Of The Bridge and tell me it couldn’t be released today.

Click through for the piccies!

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Strange Pilgrim Release Through the Branches

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It seems that guitar pop has fallen behind some of the modern trends of late, with bedroom pop and shoegaze-ish sounds dominating coverage. But, there was a time when acts like Woods and Real Estate dominated playlists, and for their part, Strange Pilgrim are carrying that torch, especially with this incredible new single. It opens with this ray of sunshine, hitting jangling notes before shedding this incredible warmth upon the listener. A steady soothing vocal runs its course, feeling like a crisp Summer breeze, offering just the slightest cool to your day. You’ll find some really special moments awaiting in the tune’s latter half as the melodies and arrangements blow the whole thing open. Really loving this tune, and looking forward to Too Bright Planet, out September 26th via Royal Oakie.

San Gabriel Plays with Fire

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If I could pick an artist that I wished could cross over into the masses, I’d love for folks to catch onto San Gabriel…and this new single might be the one to catch some ears. Trickling keys and samples open the track to this angular riff that hits sharply; it sets up the rush of the hook perfectly, opening the door for James to walk into the frame. Once he hits, his voice is surrounded by various backing voices, filling the empty space with textural layers, all of it leading to this masterful chorus that should have you punching the air with joy. If you’re willing to let joy into your heart, open it to the tune below; Nights and Weekends is out August 15th.

HHBTM Announces Two New Releases: Tullycraft and Bunnygrunt

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Our friends at the great HHBTM label have been busy setting up their own proper record shop, but like all great things, their finishing this year with focus back on the label side of things. They sent us a note about two great new releases, one that’s brand spanking new, Tullycraft; the other, Bunnygrunt, getting the 30 year Reissue treatment for Action Pants. Below, you’ll be treated to the joyous pop sounds of Tullycraft‘s new single; they take on this infectious sound that feels like it’s somewhere between Heavenly and Beulah, catchy and bundles of fun (I particularly love the horn blasts that kick on here). Shoot the Point will be out on August 22nd. You can also hear a new to everyone Bunnygrunt track that was never on the Action Pants LP back in 1995, due to some lineup and contract issues. But, they’ve redone it, and dammit if you’re not going to wish you this had been included in the OG version. This reissue is super-limited and is being split with Silly Moo Records.

New Single from The Valery Trails

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Trying to take you into the weekend with a little vibe here and a little vibe there, and I’m definitely feeling this new track from Aussie outfit The Valery Trails. I love a band that wastes zero time getting loud like this lot, smattering the drums and letting the guitars just ring right through. At times, they almost feel like they’re a pop punk band from the UK, or maybe they’re channeling Teenage Fanclub; it’s always loud, with a melody lurking throughout, and maybe there’s a little tongue-in-cheek humor working in there too. They’ll be dropping their new album Winter Palace on August 29th.

Ingebrigt Haker Flaten Shares Single + Announces Sonic Transmissions

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Seeing as we’re here to get weird on a Friday, there’s definitely a reason to branch out into the realms of the work of Ingebrigt Haker Flaten (Exit) Knarr, as the current ensemble is labeled. The group have recently announced Drops, their latest record, and below you’ve got the jazzy twists and turns tantalizingly tuning in and out. Squeaks and squawks, hammering keys and drums rolls, all peaking in cacophony and coming together harmoniously. It’s this aversion to modern construct that makes the ensemble so captivating. Plus, the group have also blasted news of the next Sonic Transmissions Festival, taking place here in Austin on September 11 thru the 14th, supported by Epistrophy Arts. It’s a celebration of storytelling and sounds that stretch our expectations of what pop is; you can get more details HERE.

Dance Into the Weekend with Orbita

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I know that B.Gray typically runs our IT Department, but when I caught this Orbita tune, I just felt like we could open up our Friday with a little bit of a punching groove to slide into the weekend. While lacking vocals, the song’s got plenty of movement, driving you forward with this rhythmic pulse and synthetic keyboard stabs that would work perfectly if you were scoring the Upside Down. I love the drop into the track around the 40 second mark, turning it into something altogether more propulsive and pumping. There are moments when the song settles, only to swing back in and hit you all over again with its synthetic power. Why not feel the future on Friday?

Chronophage Drops Musical Attack

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A new release by Chronophage always warrants a celebration; they’re one of the gems of the Austin scene, and just last week they dropped Musical Attack: Communist + Anarchist Friendship. It’s four brief songs, all which seem to explore their various influences in different ways. When the album opens, it almost feels like they’re taking a Dead Kennedy’s approach with that pummeling drum opening, but they waste little time rushing into this fervent guitar jam that just shreds right through your speakers. The dancing guitar line that opens “We Must Be Evil,” embraces the absolute playfulness of the tune, letting the vocals sort of encircle and prance about the musical element. You can even find a nice little video HERE of the closing “Anti-Miracle,” which features this stuttering guitar wiggle that borders on moving into post jam band territory; it’s got this falling little chorus that’s perfect too. If you want a 7″ copy of the EP, grab it from Post Present Medium.

Another New Bats Track

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One of the last values of social media is that if you tie yourself to good humans, they share good music with you, which is how I was alerted to this new track from the Bats that seems to have popped up since the announcement of Corner Coming Up. I don’t know how this band isn’t constantly on the tips of our tongues, so to speak, as they seem to have grown and aged with perfection since their inception in 1982. The huge emotional pull when the drums drop in on the single below just sucked me right in while the guitars began to swirl around my head. Hard to turn away from the sweetness of the vocals either, especially with the ever so slight touch of backing hanging in the distance. Their new LP will be out on October 17th.

Runo Plum Signs to Winspear

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Winspear is on a roll label-wise, riding fresh on their signing of the new Winter album, they’ve now announced that they’ll be working with Runo Plum. Along with the excellent news, there’s a brand new single, with a track that dwells on the concept of community and friendship, which seems ever more important in today’s landscape. Musically, it’s the sort of folk-adjacent brand that made hue stars out of Angel Olsen and Sharon Van Etten; I love the vocals here though, living in this more ethereal climate that encourages the sense of longing that courses through the track. There’s a slew of European tour dates coming up for the artist, but get ready to hear this name quite a bit in the next year.

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