Tag: constant follower

Last Week’s Jams (9.23 – 9.27)

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We’re drawing towards the end of the year, and while that means arbitrary musical lists of things, what it also means is that we’ve got a few more records hanging out to enjoy before the year is up. Personally, there were some great new songs from trauma ray, EggS and the Wickies, which indicated that these acts have a lot of promise to deliver. Best Bets dropped their latest LP, which was on our radar, not to mention the new release from Being Dead and Feeling Figures. Loved the introduction to Coldwave, and it never hurts to wrap up the end of the week with new music from Constant Follower!

Constant Follower Release All Is Well Video

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For all the time that I’ve been listening to Stephen McAll and Constant Follower, I felt like I had known expectations of what was coming my way, but that changes with the latest single. While previously tunes have been built around lush arrangements and folk soundscapes, this song opens up with the central force working around an electronic pulse, layering vocals atop to build the tension as the track begins to open up. Once things roll in, sounds begin to conform to expectations, though there’s a bit more thoughtfulness in every inch, a bit of a willingness to stretch their natural tendencies into grandiose pop that swells with huge expectations for their forthcoming The Smile You Send Out Returns to You; that new album will be out next year via Last Night in Glasgow.

Last Week’s Jams (8.5 – 8.9)

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Another week, and another weird day where I posted more than one person should, but alas, there has been a lot of really great music of late. So, below you’ve got our weekly playlist, sort of summing up where we ended last week, before we head into this new one. We had a really great Rock n’ Recipe interview with former ATX band Blood, plus some more local love for Letting Up Despite Great Faults. Covered some great new music from Naked Roommate, Wut and Lunar Vacation, then ended the week with one of my favorite acts, Constant Follower. There’s tons of music in between too, and we’ll be back again with more following these messages.

Constant Follower Return with Whole Be + New Album

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Staying with our slow morning vibes here, this new Constant Follower is a reminder of the majesty that swarms around Stephen McAll. There’s always something spiritual in McAll’s voice, as it’s been the lighthouse in the storm for years, but as the tune guides us towards reflection on our own imperfections, you find yourself moved without ever having taken a step. And, as per constant with Constant Follower, the accents added to the craft add these layers of depth that leave you bewildered, almost in awe at how ornate the music feels, while still feeling powerful. This is the first listen from The Smile You Send Out Returns to You, which was recorded here in Texas; it will be out early next year via Last Night from Glasgow.

Last Week’s Jams (5.6 – 5.10)

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What a wild and crazy week that was. Tons of music, and tons of great albums. We suggested you listen to the latest LPs from Lunchbox, Amy O, Gregor and Stephen’s Shore, among others…so go back and revisit those records if you’re into full-length listens. But, if not, some of our favorite acts popped up after a bit of an absence; there was new stuff from both Quivers and Emma Russack, so the Aussie contingent was representing with new music. This My Best Unbeaten Brother track that opens up the playlist is a ripper, but don’t you dare skip beyond new Yea-Ming or Cats of Transnistria. Just a bunch of great jams for you to enjoy, so just get right to it!

Constant Follower Share Turn Around For Me Video

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Not exactly sure when and how I stumbled upon Stephen McAll’s Constant Follower, but I’ve been a pretty avid supporter of his craft, especially as he’s taken the intricate early days and continued to flesh them out into these sprawling folk pop opuses. Below we’ve got a brand new tune from the band, recorded here in Austin oddly enough. Listening through the tune, I still marvel at how the songwriting and production have grown over the years, yet there’s still this sincerity that you don’t find in a lot of place. And, Dan Duszynski’s production work allow the song to swell to the edges, though never flowing over, masterfully capturing the pure sentiment of McAll’s songwriting. And, as everything Constant Follower does carries great personal weight for the music, they pour that into the art as well, as we see with this animated video from Tsumugi Yagi. Check out the Bandcamp for another single paired with the below tune!

Last Week’s Jams (3.6 – 3.10)

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We covered tons of territory last week, particularly as we ran tons of little interviews in our Meet the SXSW Band features; it’s also the Spring season, so that means there are tons of announcements about new records and such. I was stoked to hear new stuff from Constant Follower and Mary Onettes, plus we premiered new tune from The National Honor Society and Hot Coppers. And, seeing as its SXSW, we got interviews back from Daiistar, Taleen Kali, Hamish Hawk and a ton more, all with little introductions plus their music. Or, you can listen to the jams below and see if they’re playing near you, wherever you find yourself!

Constant Follower and Scott William Urquhart Announce Even Days Dissolve

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If you read these pages from time to time, you might have read about the moving performance I caught from Constant Follower last year, not to mention the incredibly intricate brand of folk they’ve been writing. Recently, the group announced a collaborative album with Scott William Urquhart, which only adds another delicate layer of guitar work to Stephen McCall’s moving pieces. Here, I love the openness running through the track; the tune allows the song to find its own way, leaving space to breathe and allow the musicianship to shine through. The writing all came about organically, inspired by the poetry of Norman MacCaig, to whom McCall is indebted. Together they will release Even Days Dissolve on April 14th, so prepare to delve into one of the year’s most intimate listening experiences.

Constant Follower Share Live Footage from National Wallace Monument

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For some time, I’ve been singing the praises of Stephen McCall and Constant Follower; seeing the band perform in a church at SXSW was, well, spiritual, as we expected. Unfortunately, I didn’t see you all, so instead I’m really pleased to share some special live footage recorded at the National Wallace Monument in Scotland, featuring three songs from the excellent Neither Is, Nor Ever Was LP. McCall’s voice has this purity to it, as you’ll hear, seemingly ready to shatter into pieces the moment you reach out to touch it. As for the recording, there’s such patience in their togetherness, each note serving to carry the song’s lofty goals to near perfection. Take a listen, and be sure to go back and visit the LP, if you haven’t.

SXSW Interviews: Constant Follower

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I spent a lot of last year hyping Constant Follower, particularly around the release of Neither Is, Nor Ever Was. So, I’m really excited to see the band coming over here to play SXSW this year. We were fortunate enough to grab a few moments from the band and have them fill out our little questionnaire, with one of their hits below to sample.

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