SPIN exclusively premiered this new track from Brooklyn’s finest dream-pop players yesterday afternoon in addition to providing readers with a glimpse of Beach Fossils’ new LP, straight from the mouth of frontman Dustin Payseur. The magazine describes the track, “Shallow” (the A-side off of a forthcoming 7-inch, due on February 21st) as being the band’s “first attempt at aggression” and frankly, I don’t get it. Faster beats doesn’t necessarily equate to aggression, especially when so many characteristics that we’ve all come to love from these guys continue to dominate their sound.
The trebly reverberated guitar with the lo-fi echoed vocals are as present as ever on “Shallow,” and show that the band is dedicated to sticking with the “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mantra. With that said, the rhythm is sped up and we get a hint of distortion in the opening measures, but it’s nothing that takes away from the ease and chilled-out feeling that you succumb to when listening to Beach Fossils. Grab the track below and decide for yourself whether the band’s sound has ventured into a more aggressive territory. Regardless, it’s a solid, enjoyable track that will be spun often in anticipation of the LP.
[mp3] Beach Fossils // Shallow from the Shallow 7″
The video for Hospitality’s “Friends of Friends” features Maeby Funke getting over a break-up with her pals and straight Maker’s Mark. Not a bad way to get over things, and with one of the most maddeningly addictive songs of the young year to back it up, it’s not soon forgettable.
Hospitality (the album) is out tomorrow courtesy of Merge Records.
Tanlines, the Brooklyn-based electronic duo, released the first track from their new album nearly a week ago at this point. Culled from their upcoming debut Mixed Emotions, which will be released on March 20th through True Panther, “Brothers” continues on with the pair’s dense indie electro. They’ve tapped into something basic, almost inborn with their music; it was evident on their 2010 EP, Settings. Theirs is the music of our shared past, told through the conveniences of the 21st Century.
The album itself is a long time coming. The pair released a compilation of their first EPs in 2009 before releasing Settings in 2010, and they took their time crafting their proper debut album. Mixed Emotions is available for pre-order now through True Panther in various formats (really just in LP or CD format), and will be shipped “on or before” the release date of March 20th.
brooklyn-based backwords has an all lower-case band name to match their all lower-case ethos. no pesky upper case letters disturbing the flow; no punctual moments interrupting the mood. lower-case letters are inviting and informal. to that end, backwords has no problem leaving something like an errant sneeze in the final edit of their latest album, by the neck, out march 6.
by the neck was recorded, edited and mixed in backwords’ studio basement, so you can forgive it if it has the musical equivalents of water stains and frayed edges. like those purposefully retro-ized images that are all the rage these days, the music is washed out, fuzzy and filled with blemishes. the means exist to create a lush, bright, crisply produced sound, but they choose against it.
there is a refreshing rawness to the music that harkens both neil young and early 90s grunge. the guitars are erratic, rough, and at times lilting. the drums lay down a solid folk-rock base while touches of banjo here and piano there brighten the mood. every member gets behind the mic to contribute to the distinct vocal harmonies. though they can be strained, raspy and even borderline off-key, it works perfectly (and also makes it easier to sing along). everything oozes together to form a lazy lower-case mass of breezy summertime psychedelic folk rock.
initially the stand-out tracks for me are the catchy, piano-driven “naked flame” and fuzzed out “pieces of a dream,” though the album closing “magic bike ride,” which could easily find a home in an old sid and marty krofft children’s production, is quickly seeping into my subconscious. they’re offering up a free download of “anywhere now,” which will serve as good an introduction to backwords’ by the neck as any.
connect with backwords // web | facebook | twitter (where all tweets are in haiku form)
backwords // anywhere now [mp3] from the forthcoming by the neck
We first became aware of Brooklyn’s Teletextile when we were sent their EP, Reflector, at the end of 2010. In fact, we even used this song – “I Don’t Know How To Act Here” – in our introductory post. In the intervening 14 months or so since that post, I haven’t heard much about the band, until this video got sent around. And you know what? The song is still damn good.
001: Joywave - Ridge/Traveling At The Speed Of Light 7"
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NOTE: Concerts are in Rochester unless otherwise noted.
1/5: Les Racquet
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an examination used to test the condition of the middle ear and mobility of the eardrum, and the conduction bones by creating variations of air pressure in the ear canal.
Basically, it sounded like a cool name for a blog intended to be primarily about music. We’d both had other blogs previously, but over beers it was decided that more damage could be done as a joint venture. And here we are.
We share a passion for the undiscovered and under-appreciated, and hope that you’ll be able to find something you love as well.
Disclaimer
The music offered on this blog is for sampling purposes only. If you enjoy something you hear here, please go out and buy the music, see a show, or purchase some merchandise. Posted mp3s are available for a limited period of time only.
If there are any materials featured here that are your intellectual property, and you would prefer them removed, please notify us and we will be happy to oblige.
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About the Author: Dave
I like music. I can't describe how I came to like the music I do, because I don't know how or why, I just do.
Many years ago, Napoleon's brother, my great-great-great-great-great-great Grandfather, came to America. He was asked his name on Ellis Island while being processed as an immigrant. Not understanding English, he was under the impression that he was being asked how he had arrived in the new land. So he turned around and pointed at the sea vessel and said, 'LaBarge.'
About the Author: Andy
I come by my music taste of my own free will. My friends listened to 2Pac, my parents to contemporary Christian and me? Sunny Day Real Estate. I can’t explain it.
“Music, true music, not just rock ’n’ roll, it chooses you. It lives in your car, or alone, listening to your headphones…” - Lester Bangs
![Beach Fossils Shallow 7 [mp3] Beach Fossils // Shallow](http://tympanogram.com/files/Beach-Fossils-Shallow-7.png "[mp3] Beach Fossils // Shallow")
![tanlines mixed emotions cover [mp3] Tanlines // Brothers](http://tympanogram.com/files/tanlines-mixed-emotions-cover.jpg "tanlines mixed emotions cover")
![backwords by the neck cover [album review] backwords // by the neck](http://tympanogram.com/files/backwords-by-the-neck-cover.jpg "backwords by the neck cover")
