More from Wymond Miles

wymondIt’s almost as if we can leave the association with Fresh and Onlys in the dust, as Wymond Miles solo-work doesn’t seem to have too much in the way of commonalities, aside from the vocals. His latest single is this swelling pop masterpiece, cementing his talents as a standalone act. I love the varying tones in his voice, and the darkened tones of the guitar meeting the drums seem to contrast perfectly when it all meets in the middle. Call By Night, his new record, will be out on July 8th via Sacred Bones Records.

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Continuously Impressed by Wymond Miles

wymondSince the Fresh and Only‘s seem to have slowed their prolific run, it’s allowed Wymond Miles to focus on some of his solo work, which is always great. I think this new single illustrates something wholly different for him, at least in comparison to his past efforts. His voice soars in a way that I don’t think I fully gave him credit for; it’s a really strong performance on that end. The construction of the song revolves around emphatic swells, crashing into your ears at just the right time, with carefully placed calming dips. Call By Night is the title of his new album, released on July 8th via Sacred Bones Records.

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The Fresh & Onlys – House of Spirits

playitStrangeTitleRating: ★★★★☆

The Fresh and Onlys have been on fire, more or less, for the last five years.  No matter what they do, it’s hard to find detractors of their musical accomplishments, and yet it still seems like the band have something to prove, or room to grow.  House of Spirits is a record draped in imagery, largely crafted during a period of isolation in Arizona for member Tim Cohen; it’s an example of how well the band works when crafting songs together.

“Home is Where” opens up with little more than Cohen’s voice, illustrating the bare bones approach that led towards the completion of the record.  Soon, the rest of the group joins in, providing a spirited pace that comes off as an exhilarating stomp with cascading guitars falling through the cracks left by Tim’s haunting voice.  It gears you up for “Who Let the Devil,” which is perhaps one of the best songs the bands have written to date, seriously.  There’s a trickling bit of guitar beneath the cymbal work, leaving room for the distant howl of Cohen to lurk in the distance.  While the vocals still hold onto the traditional fare from Fresh & Onlys, they also soar into a loftier pitch during the chorus.  But, like most affairs from the band, they don’t stand in one place for too long.

There’s this feeling of contemplation that permeates House of Spirits, but perhaps no track exemplifies this more than “Animal of One.” I’ve grown fond of the line “the point of forgiving is so you forget, that being forgiven is all in your mind.”  Taken out of context, it might not seem as drastically poetic as I feel it is, but put into the context of this track and the album, it takes on greater meaning.  The delivery of the chorus is also emotionally striking, rising high in the mix, while the rest of the song seems to hold back for some Western-influenced introspection. But, while the lyrical content of this album is superb, there’s also these little touches that have really brought the record alive.

On “April Fools,” for instance, there’s a wash of keyboards just barely audible.  It’s not particularly forward-thinking, but these little flourishes have really added to the depth of sound in the band’s writing, demonstrating just how much they’ve grown since their inception…they seem to have left the idea of psychedelia behind, in some respects.  This is especially evident on “Ballerina,” which comes across like a track that the Walkmen would have written at their best; it’s a simple ballad that works atop a simple percussive element.  You’ll also find a backing vocal that perfectly accents the chorus from Cohen.  And such are the fine touches that make the group rise above their peers.

For me, there’s a change in the sound of Fresh & Onlys, and one that’s been foreseen if you’ve followed the work of the members outside of the band, such as Magic Trick or Wymond Miles.  On House of Spirits, the band seems to have brought in elements from all their various projects, leaving listeners with a cohesive record that will long stand up in the hearts of its audience.

More New Music from Wymond Miles

wymondmiles_studioshoot_jch_3I imagine it’s pretty hard to break away from the sound you’re known for curating, thus why I’ve been pretty impressed with the music Wymond Miles has been pushing outside of his other band, Fresh & Onlys.  On his latest single, I hear a synth-laden dream of a track, seemingly aligned with the likes of Jeremy Jay.  Even more impressive is the control he has over his vocals, reaching levels I hadn’t expected. His newest effort, Cut Yourself Free, will see a release date of October 15th via Sacred Bones.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/03-Night-Drives.mp3]

 

Stream New Wymond Miles

This is a sweet track to add to your weekend streaming. Wymond Miles is guitar guru for The Fresh & Onlys and has released an LP and EP in recent years, but there is building buzz around the pending full length called Cut Yourself Free due 10/15 on Sacred Bones.

Thing is, I took a second listen and the song struck me as very familiar. I had just listened to Turn On The Bright Lights last week. Tell me if you hear a similarity or maybe I’m just nuts.

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