New(ish) Music From Joy Formidable

A while back, I brought you guys a tune/free album download from this Welsh band Joy Formidable.  I’m now reading online that the band recently signed to new record label Black Bell Records which was just created by Passion Pit’s Ayad Al Adhamy.  In May the new label plans to finally get a U.S. release for Joy Formidable’s 8 song EP A Balloon Called Moaning which was previously only available internationally.  I downloaded that EP when it was free last year and have recently been finding myself drawn more and more to the bands atmospheric fuzz pop sound.  Below you can find a sample of that sound in the form of a free song the band is offering up to grow some publicity for their upcoming release.  The future looks bright for this 3 piece.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/05-Whirring.mp3]

Download: Joy Formidable – Whirring [MP3]

Harlem – Hippies

Rating: ★★★★½

For the past several years, interest has been building slowly behind the Austin trio, Harlem.  They upped their own ante by signing to Matador Records for the release of their newest album, Hippies.  Behind years of playing whenever and wherever they could, honing their musical chops, Harlem have seemingly created one of the best works of the year (I was afraid to give it a 5 so as not to be accused of a homer).

Entering the album, there’s about thirty seconds of a slight lull during “Someday Soon,” but as the song goes on, the pace quickens, going forward in a ramshackle truckload of fun.  The final crashing chorus shows the nonchalant attitude of the band who are always energetically pursuing joy on stage.  “Friendly Ghost” (not about a ghost) carries the same mentality, using jangling guitars and a pounding drum to get your foot tapping so hard you might lose it to the sheer enjoyment of the song alone.

Destined to not just rely on lo-fi tendencies and madness, the group do give a nod to a little bit more of a classic rock n’ roll sound, as “Number One” highlights garage rock’s earlier days with gang vocals and certain tendency not to come across too polished.  All the while, they maintain their incredible stomp, which may lead to some soreness in the neck after prolonged exposure to this record. “Be Your Baby” is in the exact same ball park, although it doesn’t sound anything at all like the song that precedes it.  You will surely be exhausted already by this point, as no band can clearly keep up this blistering pace.

They do.  It’s like non-stop furious jangling chords and raucous percussion work.  “Gay Human Bones” maintains the pace, and then you find a hint of Nirvana in “Torture Me” (that’s if you are to believe the band’s Myspace).  However, there is “Cloud Pleaser.”  Rolling gently along for a minute or two, it gives all us listeners a chance to stretch and maybe grab a quick drink of water, but the band can’t stay away too long, ending the song on a faster note, albeit a slightly slower one, comparatively speaking.

You won’t ever find anything dull, though some might say that there are some like-sounding songs, along the way to the end of the record.  If you found the first half of the record touched by garage sounds and carefree recording, then you’ll be surprised that there is a dark psychedelia lying at the second half.  “Prairie My Heart” has a darker soul to it than some of the previous number, leading you to believe that Harlem has more tricks up their sleeve. So they do, as “Pissed” clearly isn’t like many other things on the record, yet it fits right along the rest of the tracks.  Personally, it just reminds me of Love if Arhtur Lee was a whole lot more “pissed”, and didn’t have that spectacular voice.

Really, this record is fantastic.  It moves along at such a quick pace that you have to go back several times to make sure you loved that one song as much as you did when you first heard it.  Truth is, you will love it, possibly more so.  Hard to find a bad song on this record that can’t stand on its own merit, which makes Hippies one of the best works to come out in 2010. Truth.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Harlem-Friendly-Ghost.mp3]

Download: Harlem – Friendly Ghost [MP3]

New Tunes from The School

Cardiff, Wales group The School will definitely have people dropping all sorts of names for comparisons to their pop sound, but I doubt many will hit it right on the head.  I’ve already heard the Camera Obscura reference, and while they have a girl singer, I’m not sold on the idea.  Still, having loads of reference points will definitely garner interest abroad, which is what the band have surely accomplished.  This track comes from their album Loveless Unbeliever, which hits stores April 19th.  This is one of the few songs that doesn’t sound entirely like a 60s girl group, so I chose this one up to offer you a preview to the band. You dig?

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/04-I-Want-You-Back.mp3]

Download: The School – I Want You Back [MP3]

King Khan & The Shrines @ Emo’s (4/5)

Date 4/5/10
Location Emos
Doors 9pm
Tickets $15 from Ticketweb

Holy crapola, Emo’s has a pretty tasty little lineup for you music fans on Monday evening.  First up, on the outside stage, you’ve got crazy good live band King Khan & The Shrines along with The Fresh and Onlys and The Strange Boys.  Then inside you’ve got The Wedding Present and Ringo Deathstarr.  Not too sure if you can go between the outside and inside stage for this one, but it’s worth a try.  If only it wasn’t on a Monday…

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/king_khan-torture.mp3]

Download: King Khan & The Shrines – Torture [MP3]

New Tunes From Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt

Okay, so the name Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt may be a bit much, but it really encompasses the sense of fun the band is trying to give out to its listeners.  Their album, I Love You I Love You. I Love You. And I’m In Love With You.  Have an Awesome Day. Have the Best Day of Your Life! hits stores on May 5th. This song here has an abundance of exuberance for you all.  It’s like taking Broken Social Scene and making them throw a party with Los Campesinos, which really isn’t a bad thing now is it? Give it a chance.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/10-Ride-Frindship.mp3]

Download: Teror Pigeon Dance Revolt – Ride Frindship [MP3]

Hockey @ Emo’s (4/2)

Date 4/2/10
Location Emos
Doors 9pm
Tickets $10 from Ticketweb

Emo’s has a nice lineup for the price on Friday night with music by Hockey, Constellations and The Postelles.  We’ve seen 2 of the 3 bands on the lineup and can tell you that the ticket will be worth the price.  Below you’ll find that Hockey tune we dropped on you quite some time ago.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/hockey-too-fake.mp3]

Download: Hockey – Too Fake [MP3]

FTC: The Wedding Present

There’s always been something about listening to The Wedding Present that made my life seem so relevant.  Perhaps it was the way Gedge told his stories, always aligning his first person narratives with my life, or at least seemingly so.  Of course, he also ran those buzzsaw guitars all over the place, furiously creating melodies out of nowhere.  I know I’m not the only fan of this band, as I clearly see their influence on many UK bands coming our way now.  Luckily, Gedge has opted to tour the world playing the band’s classic 1989 album, Bizarro.  You’ll have your chance to catch them next Monday at Emos.  For now, listen to this track, and tell me you don’t hear the group’s influence in every lo-fi guitar heavy track around today!  And, if you are looking for a little bit more pop, check out Gedge’s other outfit Cinerama, which also completely rules.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/04-Thanks.mp3]

Download: The Wedding Present – Thanks [MP3]

New Band Of Horses Tune

Band Of Horses finally have a new track that they’ve made available for download for free on their website.  The song, “Compliments”, will cost you the price of an email address/mailing list sign up.  The song comes in video Mv4 format with some accompanying images, so the file size is quite big.  Maybe this is a new wave of cutting down on file sharing/leaking?  Maybe?  Band of Horses new album, Inifinite Arm, will be out in stores May 18th.  Dig.

New Tunes from The Lodger

I’ve long been a fan of British band, The Lodger.  I loved their album, Life is Sweet, with all its jangly cutting guitars and infectious pop ditties.  Now, the band are set to release their newest album, Flashback, on Slumberland Records on April 27th.  We’ve got a new tune to offer you, and while there is still a bit of a jangle to the guitar, you can definitely tell that the band has put some work into evolving their sound.  Pretty excited for this one!

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/The-Lodger-The-Back-Of-My-Mind.mp3]

Download: The Lodger – The Back Of My Mind [MP3]

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