This is fine.
This week is the week! Hoping that I’ll be able to catch Pachyman this week, as I’ve been super jamming to his latest LP, Switched-On. It’s a collection of Latin influenced dub, with hints of indie and psychedelic grooves…and to be honest, a sound that’s probably more obscure than it deserves to be. So, we reached out, caught up…and here we go!
I’ll finally get to catch Pachyman when he comes through at the end of October for Levitation; I love the way he’s working Latin sounds into a modern take on dub, sort of branching out between the two styles. For me, this song is a sunny meditation on the grooves of Pachyman, with the rhythm working beneath the sharp little bits of jangling guitar notes, while we get our musical narrator sashaying through this brightly colored video. It’s all about settling in, embracing the chill cool vibes coming through your speaker with the sun up over your head. Switched-On is out Friday via ATO Records, with a huge tour to follow, so keep any eye out friends!
There are so many artists coming to Levitation next month, but aside from Ted Leo and Chisel, the next act on my mind is Pachyman. This new single feels like a beachfront, cocktail-sipping good time, as it employs bits of Latin vibes with sprinkles of dub and modern production to really just hit this groove you can’t get pass on…nor do you want to! The video is humorous, with Pachyman himself playing all the instruments in various outfits, claiming all the musical fame on his own. Switched-On is out on September 29th via ATO Records.
Honestly, I’m a super-avid Pachyman fan. I was super stoked to hear that he’d be making his way to Austin for Levitation, and now I’m equally stoked to hear that he’s got a new record coming out this year. The LA instrumentalist definitely lets his Latin roots shine in his work, and yet there’s something in his style that makes it feel more than an homage…its an intangible something that makes it feel like part of the lifeblood of the modern Latin music. Plus, he’s still flirting with his love of Jamaican dub, but making it entirely his own sound, and I’m going to keep jamming this tune all day long. Switched On is out via ATO on September 29th.
Switched On is the heralded synthesizer shop over on East Cesar Chavez, and from time to time, they encourage gatherings of the musical/art realm…and I always encourage you to go. This Saturday, they’re hosting Austin’s own Holodeck Records…home to Boan, VVV, and that band Survive everyone keeps talking about. They’re bringing a bunch of their own artists like Dylan Cameron and Curved Light, but also inviting M. Geddes Genaras of LA out. But, as all great things truly are, this isn’t just about the music, as there will be visual artists there to stimulate some of your other fine senses. It’s a free event, and beverages will be provided by Austin Beer Works and High Brew Coffee!
More info on the event Facebook Page.
