Tag: austin

Stream Other Vessels Empty Afternoon EP

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I met Miranda Haney a few years back through my brother-in-law, and at the time, she was working solo, letting friends help bring her songs to life. But, after some life changes, she moved that project into a more organic affair, more full-band oriented, which is where we get to meet Other Vessels for their debut EP. Though not a Texas native, you can hear the mysticism of the state sink into the songwriting, particularly when you get lulled into those guitar lines on “Tangerine,” which is one of the standout tunes. You’ve also got tunes such as “Tall Buildings” that build carefully, pulling you along emotionally every step of the way with careful bits of piano

The Infinites Share The Bureaucrat

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Had you been on this site at all lately, you would have hopefully heeded our advice to pick up the fresh LP from the Infinites, and today there’s another song to give you a nudge. Of the three singles we’ve heard, this one opens up with the most urgency, pounding drums and guitar lines rushing to set the scene for you; it’s that sort of driving sensation like you’re rushing towards the light on the horizon. Of course, Jared’s vocals are the steadying force, the sensible driver, letting you know that it’s okay to take it all in as you speed towards your destination. I loved the guitar work in-between verses, sharp and jagged like this old fella loves. Archetypes is out on February 16th via Meritorio Records.

New Stuff from 12XU: Water Damage + Love Child

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It’s Bandcamp Friday, so I’m trying to hook you onto some cool stuff as much as I can today, like two new LPs that just popped up via Austin’s 12XU Label. The first is the sonic masterminds, Water Damage, who’ve just announced In E. Their perhaps one of the best live acts to capture in the Austin scene, building layer after layer and intoxicating listeners with this driving thunder that gets into your bones. This is the perfect place to lose yourself and then find your feet, again and again; it’s out on April 12th.

The label also announced a Love Child compilation, culling hits from 1988-1993. Honestly, it’s a band I hadn’t heard of, but now I have to have it! It’s the perfect bit of ramshackle pop music; there are elements of punk madness, but it’s all circled around well-executed pop structures. I keep thinking of a more rocking version of the Vaselines for some reason. Never Meant to Be is out on March 8th.

Touch Girl Apple Blossom Share Sidewalk Video

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One of the under the radar gems that I didn’t discover until a bit late in the game was the debut EP from Touch Girl Apple Blossom, and they were right in my own backyard (metaphorically, not actually!). This Austin quartet sounds a bit like they’ve taken all the charm from acts such at Juliana Hatfield and Diet Cig, borrowed the hooks, then run away to pile a little bit of grit and atmosphere to the mixture. It’s sort of like an amalgam of pop and weirdo, which is everything I absolutely love. So, now that I’m all over the band, I wanted you to be too, which is why I bring you their fresh video for “Sidewalk,” with a reminder their EP is now available via 7″!

summer

Holy Wire Share I Still Feel Alone All the Time

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Local Austin act Holy Wire seems to be on this huge musical trajectory, and I can’t but help and marvel how quickly Alain and company seem to have risen. The project has a new LP hitting this Spring titled The Ending of an Age, and it’s synth pop craft feels like its reached the next level, at least in comparison to modern peers. You can hear the vocals taking on those deep dulcet tones, yet there’s some notes that Paradis hits where I’m just swept away. Musically, there’s this steadiness that certainly owes a debt to the groundwork from the 80s, but it’s execution and production are simply too stunning to think it fits anywhere other than the present! The Ending of an Age is out on April 5th.

Broken Gold Share Spiraling Single + Announce Wild Eyes

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One of the truest thing, for me, is that you can’t be a hard rock n’ roller forever; sure, you can hold onto your ethos, but at a certain point, you need a dose of melody or a nice hook…and I feel like Broken Gold get that, and get me. Their brand new single from the forthcoming Wild Eyes LP has these sharp stomping riffs running through; you get a bit of a Mats vibe in the verses. Then, you hit the chorus and the synths come in and the track blossoms right into that punk-ish croon from Ian MacDougall; you can hear the edge and the hard-lived life in the lyrics and voice, but something just reeks of maturity, in the beset way possible. A perfect balance of where rock and hooks meet at the park, so come swing with me. More news on Wild Eyes as we hear it from Chicken Ranch Records/Yeah Right.

Cranking That New Variety Tune

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If you know what’s good for you, you already listened to this Variety jam last week via Post-Trash, but, seeing as the band’s the new project from Borzoi‘s Rhys Woodruff (an ATX treasure), we had to give our love to the song as well. I’m enamored with the way that the drums and jingling guitar lines give into this tune’s anxiety; this feels like the more dangerous brand of what Omni’s been doing over the last several years. Woodruff’s got this indifferent curl on the vocals , creating this aura of nonchalance that completely runs in contrast to their surroundings. Austin fans can catch the band playing this Friday at Hotel Vegas, with a few other dates scattered at the beginning of February.

Fantastic Purple Spots Announce Vibrations Now EP

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Due to unforeseen circumstances, namely having another kid and moving homes, I kind of pulled back on the ATH Records label after the Love Burns cassette. But, new year, and I’ve got things running again, today announcing a new digital EP from Fantastic Purple Spots. The Austin act has been on my mind for a bit, having discovered them after their eponymous LP from the Winter of 2022. We’ve been in touch since those early days, and the band are allowing me to work with them on their excellent new Vibrations Now EP. Their sound is somewhere between pastoral pop and psychedelia, allowing you to let your mind swirl with the mixture of sounds you’ll hear in each track. Their Vibrations Now EP will be officially out on January 26th, but you can stream the title track below!

Large Brush Collection Share Arm’s Length

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As the Austin scene begins its year, one of the acts on our radar is Large Brush Collection, who will drop Off Center at the end of the month. Led by Nora Predey, the group’s sound twists and turns around the folk ethos that permeates Texas music. That said, the construction of their work, as well as some of the finer brushstrokes across this single, indicate a dedication more aligned with post-rock. Drum work rolls through casually, carefully traipsing through the grasses of the flute and ornate guitar lines, all of it centered around the majesty of Predey’s voice. There’s even some sharp-edged guitar bursts, faintly furthering an allusion to a rock underbelly. Look for Off Center on January 26th.

The Infinites Share The Queen

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One of my most anticipated Austin record this year is the forthcoming LP from the Infinites. We’ve already hyped up their super “The Expat” single, and they’re raising the bar on this new one. Musically, the track feels like a ship at sea, rocking back and forth in the crafty groove the band have created. Steadying the ship, however, is Jared Leibowich (an ATHR alum!), with his voice shining its majesty atop as it guides the band’s pop sensibility. There’s several moments when the band locks in here, throwing out a rocking guitar solo just to flex the stellar musicianship on the stage. You’re going to want to grab Archetypes; it drops via Meritorio on February 16th.

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