Loma (l-r: Dan Duszynski, Emily Cross, Jonathan Meiburg). Contributed/Bryan C. Parker
OUT THIS WEEK
Loma, self-titled (Sub Pop). You never know what might bloom between artists who tour together. When Dripping Springs duo Cross Record opened shows for Austin-hatched band Shearwater a couple of years ago, the former’s Emily Cross and Dan Duszynski ended up teaming with the latter’s Jonathan Meiburg to record this album. Meiburg now lives in New York, but he returned to Texas to make this album, which sound about like what you’d expect from mixing the aesthetics of these two acclaimed indie acts. This is deeply moody stuff, with Cross’s captivating voice rising above hauntingly ethereal arrangements. Meiburg occasionally adds vocals but mostly contributes as a co-writer and multi-instrumentalist, while Duszynski was largely responsible for the engineering expertise that’s crucial to Loma’s overarching sound. And as much as that sound derives from sonic experimentation, it also draws upon pastoral natural beauty, with echoes of cicadas and frogs outside the studio turning up in the mix. Playing April 21 at North Door. Here’s the video for “Relay Runner”:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAIeORh7TLs&w=492&h=307]
Midcentury, self-titled. The debut album from singer-songwriter Bruce Allen Smith Jr.’s quartet also featuring bassist Eric Harrison, drummer Evan Wade, guitarist/keyboardist Paul Murray and keyboardist Alex Chod features 10 tracks that fall within the modern indie-rock realm but also show influences of late-20th-century synth-pop. Release show Feb. 17 at Swan Dive. Here’s the track “Fallen”:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTafpTgVq_A&w=492&h=307]
Altamesa, “From the Idol Frontier, Vol. 1: The New West/The Drifter Speaks” EP (Frontera Del Sueno). Evan Charles, Sean Faires and Jonas Wilson follow up Altamesa’s 2016 debut album “The Long Ride Home” with the first in a series of EPs under the title “From the Idol Frontier.” Most arresting here is “The New West,” with guitars and horns that weave together to create an almost spaghetti-western cinematic effect. “The Drifter Speaks” is essentially a spoken-word recitation; a hidden gem here is the demo version of an instantly memorable country-folk tune titled “Troubadour’s Pay (Shadow at Dusk).” A second volume is due next month. Release show Feb. 16 at White Horse.
COMING SOON
- FEB. 22: Arielle LaGuette, “Case of the Times” EP, release show Feb. 22 at Stubb’s indoor.
- FEB. 23: Shawn Colvin, “The Starlighter” (Amazon).
- FEB. 24: Wilson Marks, “Peregrine,” release show Feb. 24 at Cactus Cafe.
- MARCH 2: Sue Foley, “The Ice Queen” (Stony Plain), in-store March 4 at Waterloo Records.
- MARCH 2: Sarah Sharp, “Wake” EP.
- MARCH 9: Uncle Walt’s Band, “Anthology: Those Boys From Carolina, They Sure Could Sing” (Omnivore), release show featuring David Ball with Warren & Marshall Hood on March 9 at Saxon Pub.
- MARCH 9: Patterson Barrett, “Give ’Em What They Want,” release show April 10 at Saxon Pub.
- MARCH 16: Caroline Says, “No Fool Like an Old Fool” (Western Vinyl).
- MARCH 23: Erika Wennerstrom, “Sweet Unknown” (Partisan).
- MARCH 23: Johnny Chops & the Razors, self-titled.
- MARCH 30: Holy Wave, “Adult Fear” (Reverb Appreciation Society).
- APRIL 13: Wood & Wire, “North of Despair” (Blue Corn).
- APRIL 13: Josh T. Pearson, “The Straight Hits!” (Mute).
- APRIL 14: Andy Macintyre, “Melomania” EP, release show April 14 at Antone’s.
- APRIL 20: Ty Richards, “Welcome to Flat Earth.”
- APRIL 20: Arkansas Dave, self-titled (Big Indie).
- APRIL 27: Mobley, “Fresh Lies, Vol. 1.”
- MAY 4: Shakey Graves, “Can’t Wake Up” (Dualtone).
- MAY 4: Jeff Plankenhorn, title TBA.