New Track / Album Announce From Cross Record!

We’ve got a great scene here in Austin, that’s no secret, but it never fails to warm my heart when a local can kill it both in the local and national scene, which is precisely what Emily Cross has done not only with her act, Cross Record, but also with her work in Loma. I’m pleased to share a new track from Cross Record off her forthcoming LP. “PYSOL My Castle” does what every great song from Cross Record has done in the past, which is put the spotlight on Cross’ incredible vocals. What’s different on this track is the instrumentation seems more keen on electronic elements–you get layers of soft synths from the get-go, and the whole tune feels subtler than before. I’m excited to hear more from this upcoming record, which will be out on 8/2 via Ba Da Bing! Pre-order it here.

Show Review: Loma @ The North Door (4/21)

Saturday night, Austin welcomed some locals back into town at The North Door in the form of Loma. The band has been touring fairly extensively on their new Sub Pop debut self titled record. Having seen Cross Record a few years back, I knew that I would be in for a night of lush sounds and elegant vocals, but I wasn’t too sure as to how the new material would play out in the live setting, especially at a venue that is a little off the beaten Red River path. All doubts were erased–Loma is a force to be reckoned with, and I expect big things from this band. Click through to read some more brief thoughts on the evening.

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Show Preview: Loma @ The North Door (4/21)

If you haven’t been listening to Loma and their killer self titled LP, then you’ve been missing out on one of the latest and greatest new bands to surface out of Austin(ish) in the past year. Now, the members of Loma aren’t strangers to the Austin scene, as the band is comprised of 2/3 parts Cross Record and 1/3 parts Shearwater, but it’s time for us to witness this combination of Austin scenesters in this unique form for once and for all. Loma will be playing in their hometown this Saturday, April 21 at The North Door, and it’s in your best interest to go ahead and buy yourself a ticket for the very low price of 12$ while they’re still available. To top it all off, the lovely Jess Williamson will be doing the opening honors. You’re going to be out this Saturday anyways, why not enjoy some beautiful folk driven indie rock while you’re at it? Doors are at 9, get there early for a full night of tunes.

One Last Loma Tune

Loma won’t release their debut full length until February 16th, but they’re here to give you one final enticing listen before Sub Pop drops it on the masses. This, for me, is the first song where I truly feel like the worlds of Meiburg and Emily Cross collide; her vocal performance is as solid as anything she’s done on her own, but the layered instrumentation definitely wears the badge of Shearwater. Interestingly, this was the first song the group wrote together, which might explain the presentation, but by no means does that means its disjointed. Enjoy this gem, and get your waller ready!

Must Watch: New Video From Loma

So this may not be the biggest new news that you’ll be met with on this Thursday, but it’s very important that you get aboard the Loma train as it’s about to leave the station. Hell, since the band is already signed to Sub Pop, you may already be too late–but it’s good to stay informed. Loma is the project some Austin darlings– Shearwater’s Jonathan Meiburg and Emily Cross and Dan Duszynski of Cross Record. Together they’re making entrancing music, as you’d expect from this epic combination, with Cross’ vocals at the centerfold, ensnaring your attention. The instrumentation bubbles underneath with a sinister tonality to it– synths pulse and glide while the steady drum beat keeps everything at a constant run. The whole track builds to a nice ending that you should definitely check it out. I’m stoked for the release of their self-titled debut, which you can pre-order herebefore its February 16th release via Sub Pop.

 

Loma Share Another Track from Forthcoming Album

It should come as no surprise that members of Cross Record and Shearwater will garner a lot of attention, but the depth of song’s like the one below clearly hint at how great this new Loma album is going to be. There’s a wonky, unsettling groove that opens the track, but Emily quickly comes into the picture to calm the storm with her voice. This track was built for her, with layered atmospherics withering in and out of the tune, leaving plenty of negative space for her to carry us with her voice. A different vibe than the first tune, but one we adore over here; look for the self-titled album to hit on February 16th via Sub Pop.

Cross Record and Jonathan Meiburg Are Loma

Sub Pop have a winner with Loma; I’m going to come out and say it right now. The project is a new musical partnership between Cross Record and Jonathan Meiburg, so it should be no surprise that we’d fawn over the release. And, to be honest, if one was to concoct this mixture fictionally, the actual band sounds precisely what one might create. Emily’s voice seems to be at the front, with Meiburg’s deepened, operatic tones just behind hers; the track unfolds ever so carefully, allowing for instrumental flourishes that are important in the work of their own respective projects…particularly the falling piano line that enters periodically. It’s ornate, textural pop, and we’ll get to hear the entirety of their self-titled debut album on February 16th.