This is fine.
Philadelphia band Sun Airway are proud to announce that they are joining forces with indie record label Dead Oceans. The group, primarily the project of Jon Barthmus, will release their debut LP Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier on October 11th via their new DO label. Below you’ll find new track “Oh, Naoko” which puts out the “chill wave” type sound that emanates from the band’s sound.
Download: Sun Airways – Oh, Naoko [MP3]
We recently got ourselves a promo copy of Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band’s upcoming record Where the Messengers Meet and we like what we hear. Back in May we dropped “Leaving Trails” your way and now we bring you another preview track called “Hurrah”. Both songs should get you excited for what is sure to be another solid effort from the group. Be sure to pick up the new album on August 3rd via Dead Oceans.
Download: Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band – Hurrah [MP3]
Just a short 18 months ago, Seattle based group Mt. St. Helen’s Vietnam Band released their suprising debut LP on the world. Now the band is already prepping new release Where the Messengers Meet for a drop date at the end of the summer on the Dead Oceans label. Here’s wonderfully produced and epic style first single from that release “Leaving Trails”. Count me as on board for this one.
Download: Mt. St. Helen’s Vietnam Band – Leaving Trails [MP3]
If you can’t tell from my artist to watch feature and last FTC, I’m having a bit of an alt-country faze in my current listening trends. I guess that makes it a perfect time for some new music from Matthew Houck and his indie folk project Phosphorescent. The group is prepping to drop their brand new fifth full length LP Here’s To taking It Easy on May 11th via Dead Oceans. Prior to that release date, we’ve got this new single “The Mermaid Parade” for your listening pleasure below. I’ve already spun my press copy of this new joint a few times, and can tell you alt-country fans that you’ll want to pick up a copy.
Download: Phosphorescent – The Mermaid Parade [MP3]
This new track from Swedish folk singer, Tallest Man On Earth, has been floating around the internet over the last few days and we just had to get it on our site. This new jam “King of Spain” will appear on the upcoming album The Wild Hunt, due out April 13th on Dead Oceans. The track comes off sounding a bit like some old school Tweedy led Uncle Tupelo with vocals more similar to Dylan on helium. That’s good right?
Download: Tallest Man on Earth – King of Spain [MP3]
San Fran’s very own Citay are back in action and about to drop their third LP on our waiting ears. The new album will be called Dream Get Together and will see the light of day on Jan. 26th via Dead Oceans. First single from the album “Careful With That Hat” is below. The sick guitar solos and pop melodies are doing wonderful things for our ears.
Download: Citay – Careful With That Hat [MP3]
In this edition of ACL Spotlight we will be taking a look at one of the most overlooked names in indie rock: John Vanderslice. Follow the jump for more.
It’s been right at 3 years since we’ve gotten a proper LP from Chicago outfit Califone and I can honestly say I’ve missed them. Isn’t that sweet? But alas, the band is back and ready to drop a new album our way October 6th called All My Friends Are Funeral Singers. Here’s a first glimpse of that Dead Oceans release, “Funeral Singers”. Welcome back to the game boys.
Download: Califone – Funeral Singers [MP3]
Nurses is not a band we know a whole lot about other than they’re from Portland and they just signed a deal with ATH fave label Dead Oceans. We also know that we really like this strange yet catchy new single from Nurses called “Caterpillar Playground”. We’re going to describe it as experimental pop music. Sound good to you? You can get your hands on the bands debut LP Apple’s Acre on August 4th.
Download: Nurses – Caterpillar Playground [MP3]
Rating: 
When you come across the musical landscape today, it’s fairly easy to classify most groups within a certain genre, especially when it comes to independent music. Akron/Family‘s new album, Set Em Wild Set Em Free (out now on Dead Oceans) , does not fit easily into any such category, and listeners are better off for the approach to songwriting that the group has taken.
“Everyone is Guilty” jumps the album off with a funky math rock instrumental moment, but just as you brace yourself for a prolonged psychedelic math trip, grouped vocal harmonies bounce in, altering the landscape within the song; the song progresses, bouncing back and forth between the gang vocal approach and the elemental science funk. For the most part, this song serves as the perfect opening to the album, as it lays down the dichotomy of the entire album. This album is one that never stays in one place for too long, combining various albums, different paces and a variety of other musical tricks to make this one of the most diverse listening experiences of the year.
Of course, there are moments when the experimentation goes a step too far, but alas, no band is truly perfect. Take the longest song on the album, “Gravelly Mountains of the Moon,” which meanders along well enough, as all the songs on this album do, but then it is destroyed by irritating noise experimentation. Such moves are a rarity in this case, but this is one moment, of the few, when they band fell off the tracks. Similarly, “Creatures” tries to delve into some electronic drum work, and although the vocal performance is memorable, it detracts from the song a bit as the atmospherics lead the listener to wander.
Still, there are some clearly perfect moments in abundance. The gentle rolling along of “River” creates a song that suits the title of the song, as it seems to gently move along due to the steady pacing of the drums. It’s as if you can hear the river coming down towards you. “Sun Will Shine” is another gem off the album, which recalls the structures of a band like The Dodos who construct and deconstruct with perfect execution. Even the haunting moments of “Many Ghosts” brings to mind the folkier side of bands like the Unicorns, as Akron/Family uses various instruments to create a wall of oddball sounds to accompany their finely woven tunes.
For those interested in this album, you will not only be rewarded by an enjoyable listening experience, but you will find that the length is suiting as well. This is an album where you will get what you paid for in length, as well as in the quantity of songs. Sit back for a spell, and let Set Em Wild Set Em Free take you away for awhile.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/07-many-ghosts.mp3]Download: Akron/Family – Many Ghosts [MP3]
