This is fine.
There’s just always so much going on, I felt like I should throw in a small write-up of some things I’ve been jamming here recently. Word on the street is that the Daphne Tunes and Xetas LPs are done, Abram Shook has a new LP on the way..we here at ATH Records also have somethings in the works. And, other people just keep pumping out hits. So hit the jump to check in on Austin with me.
I don’t think I can get enough music from Molly Burch, so it’s a good thing that the Austin songwriter has quickly followed up First Flower with a new 7″. Our first listen to the album’s A-side has me salivating for that flip side; I’m always sitting here marveling at her range as I listen to her sing. She operates with, as she describes it, ‘drama,’ but in that, she moves back and forth between smoky lounge crooner and jazz belter. Musically, the mixing on Molly’s record is always superb, with strings and guitar applying the perfect accent to her performance, yet never really over-stepping their role in the song. Finally an artist I can get my parents into! Her new Ballads 7″ is out on August 2nd via Captured Tracks. There’s also a huge tour throughout August, culminating in an Austin show at Barracuda.
Duncan Fellows is among a handful of young acts in Austin working really hard to make a big name for themselves; I think “Cursive Tattoo” has them on the right road to breaking out big. The verses have this energetic forcefulness, akin to a lot of the pop punk that blends in with indie rock. But, the chorus is where they flip it on you, almost turning into this California croon style, bringing out this sunny vibe that rises up, spins you around then drops you right back into the band’s crunchy rock element. Fun tune for a Friday afternoon.
It’s just one of those nights where you could practically walk downtown, fall over and land at a really incredible show. I’ve got my own eyes set on bouncing around to a few, but let’s see if we can’t point you in the proper direction…I gave you some hints, but you can also catch Hootie and the Blowfish if that’s your prerogative.
Darkbird, Daphne Tunes, The Lovely Sparrows, Royal Forest @ Cheer Up Charlies – 9 PM
Culture Abuse, Single Drop, Tony Molina @ Empire – 8 PM
Ryley Walker + Charles Rumback, The Hatch @ Beerland – 8 PM
Vundabar + Together Pangea, Dehd @ Barracuda – 8 PM
Caleb de Casper, CHEAP WAVE, MeanGirls, HiFi Kids @ Dozen Street – 8:30 PM
Sour Notes (7″ Release), Magic Rockers of Texas, Black Basements @ Hotel Vegas – 9 PM
Chill Russell, Dayeaeter, Arch Set Empire @ Swan Dive – 9:30 PM
We first met Jason Morris back in the early days of The Clouds are Ghosts, but over the past few years he’s really been focused on his Lunar Gold project…today we’ve got a new one from said project. Of late, the project has focused on crafting these thoughtful pop numbers, and this one is much the same. Morris’ voice has this angelic tone, accented by layered vocal accompaniment as it hangs gently in the air. Musically, there’s this understated elegance; it reminds me of the orchestral moves that Other Lives made…like a dreamscape that transports you to some celestial world. The band celebrate the release of their new single on June 21st over at Stay Gold!
The Sour Notes, always adventurous, have decided they’re going to release their new album one 7″ at a time, and today we’ve got the latest single from the series for you to enjoy. This one should come as no surprise if you listened to their ambitious collection This Is Not Our Music; I mean, if you don’t hear Galaxie 500 in here, I don’t know what you’re thinking. I love the softness of Jared’s voice on this, matched up against the heavy riffs that sort of billow in and out of the mix. It’s the sort of slow churning pop music you wish they had at your middle school dance, so you could fall in love and feel totally cool while doing it. Austin folks can get their hand on the new 7″ on June 13th at Hotel Vegas for the release show!
Remember when we released David Israel’s The Year That Felt Like Two? Well, the drummer for that project (Julia [Gulia] Hungerford)is also the drummer behind this gorgeous new Moist Flesh. For starters, Johnny Hillbun’s voice is flooring me as I listen back through it; at times it has this deep operatic tone, while I can also hear this slow churning country sound. Musically, it’s a contemplative album, allowing you plenty of space to let your mind wander, hanging on Hillbun’s notes or those guitar lines that dangle at the end of the world. It’s this broad-sweeping brilliant pop album, the sort I can just feel that Austin will overlook, so here’s to hoping some of you outside our bubble fall in love with Total Erosion of Meaning.
It’s kinda rainy here in Austin, and been sort of a shit morning, so it was nice to hear a stunning new number from one of our own, Jordan Moser. Jordan’s got a really striking voice, at times has that smokiness of M. Ward, but it has this ability take that then suddenly stretch it to more angelic tones when necessary; it doesn’t help that the wonderful Molly Burch is back there providing backing vocals. Musically, I think there this brilliance in the sort of understated nature of the whole thing; the drums are steady, but never rocking, while the guitar sort of courses in and out on its own journey. It all leaves this empty space that allows Moser and Burch to drop their vocals inside your ear channels. Long Night will be out in July courtesy of Keeled Scales.
As you know, we’re big Abram Shook fans; he even let us put out an LP by his Feverbones project, so when he’s crafting new tunes, our heads turn right away. I think those longtime fans will immediately notice that this record is a bit of a new twist for Abram; it sounds and looks like a pop record, albeit one spun through the lens of Shook. His soft vocal delivery seems to highlight the song’s natural rhythm, while synth stabs build in a toe-tapping groove beneath the whole mix; it’s all crafted under Abram’s typical attention to detail, with every note throughout being purposeful. The Neon Machine will be available on August 16th via Western Vinyl.
Michael Bain can usually be found playing guitar for local slow-pop outfit Sun June, but this year, he’s got some of his own fully-formed ideas to share with you under his own name. We’ve only got a handful of songs in our ears as of yet, but you’re in for something special indeed. On “Dad Rock” you get a to hear a sort of traditional indie rock vibe filled with more patience and open space; it allows for a sparkling beauty within the song you’ll only find with close ears. “So Far” sounds huge in it’s approach to pop music offering up a huge seductive swell right in the front of the mix, pulling back to tinker in the dreamier side of the pop genre (think Papercuts). In “Earthbound” you get the exact opposite of what one would expect from the title; it’s more of an ethereal track, almost like a lounge act in outer space. That’s just what you’ll get with Tidal Ways, an album filled with varying sounds loosely tied around the pop color-wheel. If you’re in Austin, Michael will bring these songs to the live setting Friday at Hole in the Wall; if you’re not and you love the songs, click on one and they’ll take you to Mr. Bain’s site to grab the LP!
