open for business - Austin Town Hall

Cool Friday Album Streams: Smoke Bellow, Hits, Sweet Nobody and TC Superstar

September 17, 2021 nathan.lankford Leave a comment

I’ve been posting a whole lot of singles and stuff this week, mostly because I like to over-indulge and see who is listening. No one, apparently. But, why not wrap up this week of working harder than I ever have before by sharing some cool records I liked that drop today? Yeah? Ok.

Smoke Bellow – Open for Business (Trouble in Mind)

If you’re into that new Dry Cleaning album (and you should be), then see how far this Baltimore outfit can take that sound…pushing to a weirder, albeit synthesized, world. Like Kraftwerk covering Dry Cleaning at a Halloween party for art school kids.

<a href="https://smokebellow.bandcamp.com/album/open-for-business-2">Open For Business by Smoke Bellow</a>

Sweet Nobody – We’re Trying Our Best (Daydream Records)

I’ve written about every single on this album, and could easily make comparisons to the likes of the Beths or Alvvays…all good things. If you’ve got a sweet tooth and need something to snack on, press play.

<a href="https://sweet-nobody.bandcamp.com/album/were-trying-our-best">We’re Trying Our Best by Sweet Nobody</a>

Hits – Cielo Nublado (Paisley Shirt Records)

You ever wonder what Sarah Records would sound like if they got transported to the future about 20 years? Well, pretty sure that Hits have given you the answer to that question, so if you’re looking for ramshackle pop, you’ve come to the right place!

<a href="https://paisleyshirtrecords.bandcamp.com/album/cielo-nublado">Cielo Nublado by Hits</a>

TC Superstar – As Seen on TV

Austin’s dance party drop their latest record today; it’s 9 songs of catchy hooks ready for you to invite your friends over for the night to celebrate the joys of life. Stomp about until the neighbors complain about the noise.

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Check the Latest from Smoke Bellow

September 10, 2021 nathan.lankford Leave a comment

The first minute or so of this new Smoke Bellow tune is sort of this meditative mood, like there’s been a glitch in the Matrix and we’re all just biding time as we watched the giant-headed characters on the screen. Meredith McHugh conducts here voice like she’s welcoming you to some sort of psychedelic retreat, a sort of softened mantra that beckons you to fall deep into the contemplative nature of this tune. You look up on the screen, and you’re united by the rest of the big heads, taking part in the joyousness of sonic exploration. I love how just as I think I’ve got this lot figured out, they take a turn and lead me somewhere else. I’ll gladly follow to the release of Open for Business, out next week via Trouble in Mind Records.

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Smoke Bellow Announce Open For Business

July 7, 2021 nathan.lankford Leave a comment

It seems like the year’s been packed full of acts brandishing their own interpretation of what indie rock is/was, so you’ve got to look to your favorite labels to see where its going, like with the latest from Trouble in Mind. Today the label announces the release of a new LP from Smoke Bellow, and while pieces of the sound collage are definitely familiar, the presentation feels fairly unique, albeit one in line with current trends. It’s almost what one would call no-punk or no-pop; it’s got that sort of arty presentation, with stabbing guitar lines, rhythmic pulse and a kind of off-beat nature about it…sort of reminds me of one of my ATX faves, Deep Time. Don’t be confused, there’s still delectable pop bits in here, just tossed out in a fashion that’s not as easy to consume, but ultimately as rewarding. Open for Business drops on September 17th.

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