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Maybe you’ve heard about this thing called Levitation Festival going down this weekend in Austin? You haven’t? Well your boys at ATH are here to help with a little Festival preview and guide as you head out to the shows starting on Thursday. The number one thing to remember is — pace yourself, drink tons of water, and wear comfortable shoes. Okay that was three things, but you get the idea. Hit the jump for some nightly recommendations and tuneage.
We got back to being super busy last week, with RayRay premiering that new No Win jam, plus a bunch of other new stuff that we were stoked to dive into. Good to see Free Time and Laura Jean back with new stuff, not to mention a little local love from the likes of First Names and Twain (he lives here!). All in all, its a bunch of stuff, all over the place musically, just like we do, so hopefully this kicks your Monday into gear!
This snuck out yesterday, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t get behind this album announcement from Mamalarky. The band are constantly working, and it seems like that has led to a track that kind of unloads all the pressure of writing and recording by blasting out a joyous burst. Livvy’s riff work has this angular choppiness that feels like jumping about in your room, while the chorus just radiates an exhilarated bunch. You can see they’ve locked into that joy in the video as well, as the group are at their playful best throughout! If you’re digging it, Pocket Fantasy is out September 30th via Fire Talk.
Well, last week was a struggle. End of the school year, for two teachers, and well, then that other thing, so we barely got to the end of the week, let alone hit the musical stride with our usual fervor. So, our end of week wrap-up, which we give you at the beginning, is a little short. But, there’s new jams from great releases like R.E. Seraphin, Why Bonnie or Dehd, plus a rad new track off Hazy Sour Cherry‘s forthcoming LP for Damnably. And hey, you can never go wrong having a Tony Molina tune in there. So, here’s to one foot in front of the other with our favorite jams from last week.
Mamalarky have been on a journey since their earliest days in Austin, moving about the country in hopes of finding the right fit for their sound; they’ve now settled in Georgia for the time being, ready to work on the follow-up to their debut. This tune alludes to their time in Austin, with Livvy commenting on how Austin “gave us the proper nutrients to do what we’re doing now.” And, we couldn’t be prouder. I love the way the guitar unleashes here, echoing through your speakers, with the production giving it just enough muddiness to balance out with the group’s natural pop hooks. Hopefully we get more from the band now that they’re settled in their new home.
Here we are amigos, welcoming you back to what is shaping up to be a really fun week. RayRay and I have to go back to our real jobs, officially, so there’s that. But, we wanted to reflect on last week, bringing you the hits of last week, only bringing them to you today. Most of the stuff we covered, or have covered, since we’re not apt to get to tons of reviews for individual albums, so I threw in a jam. Definitely got some good Austin coverage with new Half Dream, as well as a part Austin participation with Daphne Tunes on that new Central Heat Exchange track. You know, its not tough. Just press play, let the algorithm guide you.
Since their days living in Austin, we have long supported and tried to move the hype train forward on our friends in Mamalarky. The band has since moved to Atlanta after a stop in L.A. but we still love them and love their groundbreaking music. Moving into 2021, the band has a full length LP ready to release soon, but first dropped to brand new singles today, both with accompanying music videos self-made. If videos aren’t your thing, the fin folks at Fire Talk have both tunes available for purchase/download.
Avid Mamalarky fan here, and ready for you to really sit back and enjoy this new track from the group. If you’d caught the earlier singles this year, you might find this one as more of a contemplative approach, but its equally as rewarding, if not more so in my opinion. It opens creeping along with Livvy’s vocals wrapping around the tight little guitar notes; a careful ear will hear slight little electronic bubbles and tiny drops of feedback fuzz. It all sets up the listener for the perfect chorus drop at the 1:20 mark…you build the tension, release the emotion, and we’re all hooked. Okay, so I’m at least speaking for myself, but I imagine you can’t turn away from those sweet playful notes either. Still, the group retreat into the comfort of their quiet shell, spending a little time with the ornate approach from earlier in the tune, only to kick back in with that huge hook. They drop their self titled album on November 20th via Fire Talk.
If you’ve had your eyes on Mamalarky, you might have noticed some bubbling tunes popping up this past year, hinting at their debut LP…and that time has finally been announced! Fire Talk will be releasing the self-titled LP on November 20th. With the news comes another single to tease the release, and it captures what I really enjoy about the band’s work. The playfulness in the video somehow always also seems to be part of the music too, balancing these exuberant notes with more serious approach; you can hear that in the anti-chorus moments going on here when Livvy’s voice sort of settles in more directly, kind of flattening out and making you take note. It’s like a fun rock party, and I’m totally here for it.
If your first introduction to LA’s Mamalarky was the riotous single “Fury” back in January, you might be surprised by their latest single, as it offers up a different view of the group…though one that’s always been part of their sound. This short number uses some of the same sharp guitar sounds ringing out, though they’re crafted in a jazzier progression, similar to what we’ve come to expect from bands like Dirty Projectors. Livvy’s vocal control is incredible, going for playful to soulful to angelic, all in the span of a few moments. The video is fun and spirited, starring Livvy herself using whatever she can for al little bit of classic air guitar work.
