Andre Obin at SxSW(ish)

The IT Dept. is getting frisky for SxSW. I am putting together a nice list of artists for the electronic music fans at the Hall and this artist vaulted to the head of my list with this track.

André Obin has this gem called “The Arsonist” which will be on his debut album The Arsonist due on Sky Council. Sweeping synth, low and lower basslines, just enough special sauce to glue it all together with a perfectly restrained vocal. Then the drums.

Listings don’t show it yet, but he will be here 3/14 at Casa Chapala, unofficial day party methinks. He won an “Electronic Performer of the Year” award in his hometown of Boston so I hope it will not be a laptop on a card table. Staying tuned.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/77324695″ params=”show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Show Review: The xx @ ACL Live (2/11)

When The XX announced their Austin show, tickets were virtually gone within minutes, forcing the band to add another show immediately.  Such is the demand and the hype associated with the British group after the release of their album, Coexist.  They brought friends Austra to town with them, giving listeners a glimpse at the operatic IDM realm. 

Read on for some thoughts on the evening and pics.

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Show Preview: The XX @ ACL Live (2/11-12)

Date 2/11-2/12
Location ACL Live
Doors 6:30pm
Tickets Tonight/Tomorrow


Ticket Link Warning – If you don’t mind sitting behind a speaker, you can still get a ticket to either night’s show.

Indie darlings of moody sparseness, The XX are coming to town to play two nights and ACL Live. Austin Town Hall will be present tonight to give you all the lowdown on the show to see if you should sell your soul to go tomorrow night. A lot of people are way into Romy’s soft vocal, but the best song on the latest effort, IMHO, is the more upbeat, primarily Jamie XX-vocaled “Fiction”. Digress.

Now, The XX are cool and all, but to be honest, the openers Austra have spent more time on my playlists over the past couple years. I am looking forward to their set after having seen them at FFF6 in the broad daylight, not the best environment for their beauty-electro goodness. So here is a track to get you in the doors before their set starts at 8pm…

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Austra-The-Beat-and-the-Pulse.mp3]

Download:Austra – The Beat and the Pulse [MP3]

Show Preview: Centro-Matic/ONUINU @ The Mohawk (2/1)

Date 2/1/13
Location The Mohawk
Doors 8pm
Tickets Mohawk @ Frontgate


Double bill of diversity.

First up, Will Johnson blows the dust off of Centro-Matic playing the outside stage. Hoping to get some new tracks out of this deal. Doors are 8pm, show at 9pm with Frank Smith and Moonlight Towers opening. I really enjoy Moonlight Towers for some just plain rock, got to hang with James at EAR studios during SxSW a few years back, super good people. Should be a lovely evening ($13 doors/$15 will call). A lil Centro-Matic action to put you in the mood.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/05.-Only-In-My-Double-Mind.mp3]

Things double back and head indoors for ONUINU on the inside stage. Portland based Dorian Duvall brings his show to town so you can dance. Love Inks and Roger Sellers open up ($8 door/$10 will call). Here is some ONUINU to get you in the mood, or if you fill AV, go here to see and hear the latest..

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/09-Happy-Home.mp3]

John Grant Has A Black Belt

Got this one in the inbox and felt like sharing. John Grant sets the synths to stun and lobs a softball in the wheelhouse. This track, called “Black Belt” will be on the forthcoming full length called Pale Green Ghosts due on May 14th. I thought of plenty of bands to reference, one being Matthew Dear, but just listen to it if you like squarewaves and sparse vocal-driven builders with breaks.

The album was recorded in Iceland. That’s kind of cool. It features backing vocals by Sinead O’Connor, so hide your pope pics. Sorry for those “jokes”.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/John-Grant-Blackbelt.mp3]

Download:John Grant – Black Belt (via Soundcloud) [MP3]

Duck Duck Punch And Let Go

Depeche Mode has a new album coming out. I am hopeful. What does that have to do with anything?

I heard this while trolling tunes about the intarwebs, don’t remember what playlist thing it was (sorry source people). Duck Duck Punch is a synth band out of Minnesota. As many of you know, I am a full on sucker for synth bands, especially ones that list Depeche Mode and Gary Numan as influences. Bryan Rudell and Trent Waterman just celebrated the release of Human Chemistry, of which you can get four tracks for the price of an email on their website.

…and no Nathan, that does not say Dick Dick Punch.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/63460320″ params=”show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Letting Up Offered Another Track For D/L

More week end round up posting, good vibes to download through the Cloud from the recent transplants.

Letting Up put on a lovely little set during Free Week. Wife and I chatted with the band after, talking influences, Austin, pressed sandwiches, etc. Velocity Girl <- how's that one for a fave band mention? Anyway, Pauline has a jacket now. [soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/50355667" params="show_artwork=false" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]

Who Is E.M.I.L.Y.?

Friend of the program, Orthy, just added a sweet track we have been digging as part of their live sets for a while now to his soundcloud. The track “E.M.I.L.Y.” is a sweet little builder with the sensibilites we have come to love from Ian and the boys.

Stream it there and if you are frisky, you can download a Baio remix of it here.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/56560241″ params=”show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Have A Nice Weekend

We have a brief break from festival shenanigans. Hard to believe we are done with the “old” ACL. Fun Fun Fun starts in a day under two weeks.

Here is a track I heard a few days ago that is perfect for the middle bits. Perfect for morning coffee or the last thing to listen to before going sleepy time. It is a another new one from Teen Daze off of The Inner Mansions, a release due on 11/6 that I am really looking forward to…

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/63817250″ params=”auto_play=false&show_artwork=false&color=ff7700″ width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

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