This is fine.
The ATH team split up on Saturday, as we all had different musical agendas; JWags was bouncing all around the downtown area, hustling to catch as much as possible, while Nathan headed to the Far Out for a day filled with traditional psychedelic sounds. Check out how our days went!
Just because we took Monday off last week, it didn’t mean we were taking it easy; I think I posted 11 things in one day, simply because there’s been so much great jams to get turned onto. Austin had tons of representation with TVs Daniel, Motorsports, Friday Boys, DAIISTAR and Feeling Small, but my own love for Spanish-language pop was made all the better with tunes from Melenas and Mint Field coming our way. Teenage Tom Petties were back for the attack, with a new album announcement. Plus, there’s some reissue news with Kath Bloom and Single Bullet Theory getting coverage. So yeah, music! Whoohoo!
Admittedly, we might have outdone ourselves last week; I’m fairly certain I’m the one to blame. Somehow, we tossed up 40 songs, though a few are unavailable in the streaming sites, so you’ve only got 38 tracks on this week’s playlist. There’s a ton of Austin stuff, with new music from Daiistar, Semihelix, Half Dream and more…obligatory A Giant Dog is in there and such. Plus, still continuously impressed by the magic that is Prewn. Oh, and Australia’s buzzing at the moment, and their music isn’t half-bad either, with new tracks from the Small Intestines and Soft Covers being considered as must listens. So, if you’ve got an hour or two to kill…go on and stream!
Daiistar
I’m really interested to hear what Daiistar‘s debut album sounds like; they’ve been toying with me on every single they’ve dropped. Sure, they’re all in the same realm…psych, dream pop, shoegaze, but they’ve added in some layers to mix the tunes, which, for now, is keeping me on my musical toes. Plus, it’s all been really good, so you can’t argue with that start. This latest track from Good Time feels a bit like if Brian Jonestown just went off the deep-end into a sort of heavier realm; you can feel the weight of the guitars as the track swallows you up. Slow pacing only builds some solid tension, yet it never quite gets released, jamming out on the edges of dream pop as the song draws to a close. Fuzz Club will release Good Time on September 8th.
To be quite honest, the whole reemergence of psychedelia has worn a little thin; I mean, it’s such a specific sound, it’s got to have incredible songwriting to really stay the test of time. But, Austin’s Daiistar are flirting with mixing in other elements, especially when you turn on the opening seconds of their new “Star Starter” single; it takes on a bit of that old-school neo-psychedelia, adding an element that almost feels like its hitting on those Happy Mondays notes. Don’t worry though, there’s still tons of fuzz and squalling guitars, but that rhythm section gives it this dancefloor feel that illustrates the group pushing the expectations of Austin’s psych scene. The group will release Good Time, their debut, via Fuzz Club this September.
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!
Looks like the madness is already underway, so we wanted to be sure those in town this week got a nice peep at what’s in store for SXSW. Today we bring you a quick little interview with new Austin powerhouse, Daiistar. They’ve just recently gotten up and going, so we’re looking forward to hearing what they bring to the live setting.
Well, it seems like we finally worked out the kinks in our lives and were able to get a solid week’s worth of jams out your way. Was excited to get that new High Water Marks tune out there, as well as new Monnone Alone, if you like your pop mixed with a bit of punch. New Austin act Daiistar has their first single, plus our old ATX friends Letting Up Despite Great Faults dropped a new single too from their forthcoming EP! There’s tons of other hits from the likes of Deuce and the Golden Dregs too. Unfortunately, new stuff from Mythical Motors and Weird Numbers isn’t quite on the DSPs, so if you like what we’re covering, check those hits too on the site.
Those of you looking for nostalgic 90s rock n’ roll vibes need look no further than the work of Austin’s Daiistar. Their sound definitely has some interesting bits to it, which perhaps owes to production work by Alex Maas of Black Angels fame. You get the sort of acid house meets BJM psychedelia in the rhythm section, offering up that sort of hip-shaking thunder beneath the surface. Some fiery riffs rip through in between various riffs, pulling back to let the vocals get the focal point. In that, the vocals here seem to be channeling Brit rockers Repulica on their hit single “Ready to Go.” Give it a spin and if you’re on the West Coast they’re on tour this week playing some shows.
