New Music Friday Thoughts
Thoughts on a new album and a recent discovery from last year
Some thoughts on one of my favorite releases from this past Friday and a release from last year I just got into:
• Prism Shores - Out From Underneath: This is the sophomore album by Montreal-based jangle pop band, Prism Shores. The band is made up of Jack MacKenzie (guitars, bass, vocals, synths), Ben Goss (bass, guitars, vocals, synths), Luke Pound (drums, percussion, drum programming, guitars, vocals (hey the drummer’s last name is Pound!)), and now Finn Dalbeth (guitars, vocals) of the band Dresser. It was produced by Andrew Woods (who’s worked with Basia Bulat, Operators, and Crystal Eyes) at his studio, Royal Subs, and Howard Bilerman (who’s worked with GY!BE and Nap Eyes) at Hotel2Tango. The band is joined by KT Laine (vocals) on 4 of the tracks and Owen Fairbairn (violin) for 2 of the tracks. Out From Underneath combines the jangle pop sound of Felt and The Sundays with a “dreamy wall of noise” sound that brings to mind Alvvays. Songs like Tourniquet really balance these two sounds well with this wonderful ear for pop but this noisy, sliding, and bending guitar sound to give it this bit of edge. Killing Frost has this great downcast sound to it but behind it there’s this “whooshing” bit of noise sitting just in the back of the mix and then once the violin starts in, it really lifts off. Weightless is the most upbeat song on the record and features some of the best musicianship from the whole band, the constantly busy drums and the bouncing bass, the squiggly sounding guitars, this song is one of the biggest highlights. This is really an amazing followup to their debut, Inside My Diving Bell and I think this band is one to watch out for if they keep this up. Get it now here
• Brown Horse - Reservoir: The is the debut album by this Norwich-based 6-piece band. The band consists of Emma Tovell (lap steel and banjo), Nyle Holihan (bass), Patrick Turner (vocals and guitar), Ben Auldm (percussion), Phoebe Troup (backing vocals), and Rowan Braham (piano and accordion). The album was recorded in 4 days at the Sickroom Studios with Owen Turner (of the band Magoo). Opening track, Stealing Horses, really sets the scene of what this record is all about. There’s banjo, slide guitars, a seasick accordion, mentions of horses (naturally), Jimmie Rodgers on the radio, and one hell of a warbling voice. According to Patrick Turner, the song is about “the way songs change over time and how country artists, if not stealing, borrow from previous generations” and I think that really exemplifies the sound of the whole record. Despite being from Norwich, the band harkens back to old country sounds of the US and bring their own spin to it. The song Shoot Back has a great little boogie sound to it in the way it sort of bounces. Everlasting shows off the way Patrick and Phoebe’s voices balance and compliment eachother so well. Silver Bullet is one of the more upbeat songs on the album, even featuring a nice extended guitar solo. Paul Gilley (named after the great American Lyricist) is probably one of my favorite songs, with the band operating in I think their best sound, melancholic and nostalgic. It’s a sad song that’s an ode to Sad Songs. Truly an amazing debut. Who knew some of the most authentic sounding country could come from Norwich of all places? Get it now here