Tag: oakland

Aluminum Announce Fully Beat

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Aluminum popped up on my radar a few years back when they dropped their Windowpane EP. But, today they’ve announced their brand new LP for Felte Records, with a sound that seems to sort of draw from the spirit of the Happy Mondays in a sense. You can dance and twist to it, but there’s a buzzing guitar that knife’s its way through the song’s entirety. All the while, the vocals get delivered with a bit of bravado and a bit of throwback to an almost post-grunge alt rock. Definitely looking forward to hearing how the rest of Fully Beat unfolds; the LP drops on May 24th.

Premiere: House of Heaven Share Deserve (ft. Ms Boan Mariana Saldana)

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There’s absolutely nothing as cool at the moment as House of Heaven; the Oakland act is channeling darkly tinged dance music, and this time they get some help from former Austinite, Ms Boan Mariana Saldana. If you’re not intoxicated by the beat tripping over itself, running amok with these synth lines and thumping bass grooves, then please see your doctor immediately. When Mariana enters the fray, she coats the song in this Spanish sensuality, channeling a jilted lover as her vocals added this weighted sharpness that only adds to the cavernous feel of the track. In their craft, the band are drawn to dark corners, begging you to come with them so you can just indulge, and dance in the darkness of your own mind. Within/Without is sounding mighty tasty; it drops via Felte on April 26th.

R.E. Seraphin Preps Fool’s Mate + Shares Bound

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Think we’ve got 2 degrees of separation from R.E. Seraphin, but that’s neither here nor there, as we’ve got a fresh LP and a new track that immediately require your attention. A light little jangle and a wash of atmosphere opens things up, with the song taking a propulsive bass line under its wings as they push towards a meet and greet with the melodic center force. Seraphin’s vocals have a really nice warm jacket atop, perhaps with a nod to the album’s producer Jason Quever (Papercuts)…and whatever, it’s a really nice move that really takes Ray’s songwriting to the next level. Fool’s Mate is the new album, dropping on March 22nd via Take a Turn Records and Safe Suburban Home Records.

Sucker Drop Seein’ God EP

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You’ve really got to check out the new EP from Sucker; it dropped today courtesy of Cherub Dream Records, and though its brief, I can’t say enough positive things about it. In my ear, the band feels like they’re spinning the modern infatuation with noise and discord around demos from the Halo Benders. There’s this definite penchant for smashing guitar work, like on tunes such as “Drop,” but the vocals come across as unsettling, sort of making you tune your ears into the sound, drawing you deeper into the natural emotion of the work. When you get to “Lackluster,” it’s anything but, turning this mess of cacophony into a piece that’s dripping with natural beauty. Go give Seein’ God a listen right now!

Torrey Share No Matter How + Announce Debut for Slumberland Records

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It’s going to be a busy day on the Slumberland front, as there’s rumor of a fresh Umbrellas tune floating about today as well, but for now, let’s turn our attention to the label’s newest signee (that we know of), Torrey. With a handful of solid releases under their belt (check out Something Happy), the group present us with the first single from their self-titled LP. Hazy washes of guitar sweep you in immediately, letting the vocal melodies seep through the speakers; the tune would be a fine-enough track at this point. Yet, they’re not satisfied, jumping down on the pedals to hit you with a wall of noise, still centered around sweetened vocal delicacies. You’ll even find a nice little musical oasis in the middle, breezy and light, illustrating just how much work the band have put into these new songs. Torrey will be released on March 8th!

Jeff Moller Shares Still Intact

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We’ve been covering a lot of music from Oakland as of late, though I’ll admit, Jeff Moller‘s sound feels a bit closer to home, sonically speaking. There’s something a little wayward Western to it, just the right amount of twang hanging on those sliding guitar notes that rise through the edges. Moller’s voice definitely feels like a classic rock bit of balladry, and it doesn’t hurt that you get Jason Quever of Papercuts cutting through here on the drum kit. Jeff will be releasing his debut album, Sigh Baby on September 22nd, with expectations riding high after listening to the handful of singles made available.

Slumberland Records Sign Blue Ocean

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I got turned onto Blue Ocean a few years ago when the group put a few of their EPs together for Paisley Shirt/Dandy Boy…and today they get a further stamp of ATH approavl with the announcement that the band have signed on with Slumberland for their first LP. It’s incredibly difficult to pigeonhole the project; they create these layered textures, all working in unison, yet seemingly fighting against one another. At times my ears get drawn towards the crashing wave of screaming distortion; the rhythm section seems to work against that angst, coming in more playfully, almost bouncing; it all swirls together like this Captain Planet of DIY indie rock! All of that’s accomplished before we get swept up in the indifferent cool of the vocals. Absolutely in love here. Fertile State will be out on October 13th.

Half Stack Share Burnt Single

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While there’s a fogginess that’s swept over the Oakland scene, in a certain musical sense, Half Stack are bringing something a little bit different. They’ve got a little Southern boogie to their sound, and the vocals feel neighborly. I just imagine like a J Mascis figure inviting me over to a BBQ of some sort. Still, there’s definitely a slow burn of Cali sun shining through your speakers here, which is down to the way the riffs have this sort of understated fieriness to them…well, that and the way the male and female vocalists intertwine. Sitting Pretty is out October 6th via Forged Artifacts/Royal Oakie.

Zum Audio Compilation #5 Shares Baus Tune

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Zum Audio is celebrating 25 years in the biz, and with that, they’ve also got a new compilation on the way in mid-August. Personally, I love a compilation. You find one or two acts you love, then you get turned onto a half-dozen new bands to fawn over. Today, we’re fawning over this new Baus track, which is part of Zum’s Volume 5 Comp. It’s a frantic tune, cutting along the lines of all your favorite post-punk, though tossing in bands like Wire and Pylon isn’t necessarily a bad place to start for comparisons. I love how the sharpness gets erratic in nature, sharpening the sound as the rhythm grooves and moves beneath you. And just as you jittered into love, the song ends, and you’re left catching your breath. You’ve got time, as Volume 5 doesn’t drop until August 18th.

Softie Share Gauzy Single

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I have no idea whether anyone has coined the term fog-gaze or not, but I feel like Oakland’s Softie would certainly encompass the moniker, if we were to use it. For me, the sound has this weighted mass that just creeps through the speakers and into the corners of your room as you listen. All the vocals feel like ghostly whispers, like echoes from a distance you can’t quite make out as you fall under the spell of the warbling melody riding through your speakers. Definitely a sound that should have you listening in really closely, and with fingers crossed, we’re hoping we’ll get a new EP. Track brought to you courtesy of Cherub Dream Records.

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