Austin360 On The Record: Ghostland Observatory, Black Joe Lewis, more

Austin singer-songwriter Ray Bonneville (who performed at last year’s Jimmy LaFave tribute at the Paramount Theater) has a new album out this week. TAMIR KALIFA/ AMERICAN-STATESMAN 2017

OUT THIS WEEK

Ghostland Observatory, “See You Later Simulator.” The first release in eight years from the duo of Aaron Behrens and Thomas Ross Turner indicates a rebirth of the band that got big enough to tape “Austin City Limits” a decade ago. (It’s unclear whether this means an end or just a pause to Behrens’ recent Midnight Stroll project.) In writing about the band for the American-Statesman last month, Deborah Sengupta Stith observed: “The album has throwback vibes from Ghostland’s earlier work, with thumping numbers such as opener ‘Paradise Lost,’ ‘We Understand’ and the title track, drawing on their signature brand of electro-disco mayhem. But there’s a new sentimentality, a deeper emotional core to tracks such as ‘Sometimes’ and the soon-to-be-hit ‘Miss Abyss.’ Playing Oct. 25 at Stubb’s. Here’s the track “See You Later Simulator”:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig8laEOZpWI&w=492&h=277]

Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears, “The Difference Between Me and You.” After a four-year hiatus following 2013’s “Electric Slave,” Lewis and his band return with their second record in as many years, following 2017’s “Backlash.” Deep blues grooves permeate the record, from the blazing-hot opener “Nothing But a Cliche” to the old-school throwback “Hemmin’ & Hawin’” to the soulful, swinging “Face in the Scene.” An intriguing cover is Lewis’s radical reworking of Wilco’s “Handshake Drugs.” Release show Sept. 7 at Continental Club. Here’s the video for the track “Culture Vulture”:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dv5_IB61q0&w=492&h=277]

Ray Bonneville, “At King Electric” (Stonefly). The ninth solo album from Canadian transplant Bonneville features 11 original tunes that follow in line with the sharp and smart songwriting path he’s blazed for the past three decades. Recorded in Austin with Justin Douglas at King Electric studio (thus the title), the songs blend elements of blues, folk, country and other Americana accents with the kind of masterful grace that can only be attained through a lifetime of performing and creating music. Keyboardist Richie Lawrence and drummer Andre Bohren provide solid backing throughout, with local luminaries Gurf Morlix and Stefano Intelisano appearing on a couple of songs. Here’s the track “Tender Heart”:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlF8J3IxbuM&w=492&h=277]

Emily Shirley, “Courage Up” EP. A secret weapon on keyboards and backing vocals in local pop band Belle Sounds, Shirley steps out on her own with this instantly appealing five-song set that recalls the more melodic moments of Suzanne Vega’s work. Produced by Mark Hallman at his renowned Congress House studio, the recordings were made primarily by a trio of Shirley, Hallman and Belle Sounds guitarist Andre Moran. Release show Sept. 7 at One-2-One Bar. Here’s the track “Streetlight Glow”:

The Mrs., “Five Minutes” EP. Featuring singer-guitarist Mandy Prater, singer-keyboardist Larissa Ness, bassist Jenny Mason and drummer Andra Liemandt, The Mrs. delivers some of the most ready-for-prime-time pop music being made in Austin on this EP. “Hurricane” sports a calypso vibe to accompany its buoyant “When they say go right, we go left” chorus chant. The title track is the most compelling number, a challenge to make time count set to an immediately engaging melody. Release show Sept. 8 at Lamberts. Here’s the video for “Five Minutes”:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDbiZ6w0jWY&w=492&h=277]

Collective Thought, “Rise.” Reggae, hip-hop, soul and more weave together in songs of social consciousness on the debut recording from this six-piece outfit featuring vocalists StormShadow, Kelly Hafner and Project Dead plus guitarist Silverback Jonz, bassist Shawn Hallman and drummer Christopher Francis. Here’s the title track:

Buhu, “Tenets.” The debut album from the electronica/dream-pop duo of Jeremy Rogers and Tiffany Pagica features mostly original material plus a cover of Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes.” Here’s the opening track, “Yew”:

LOCAL RELATED

Ben Dickey, “It’s All Different” EP (SexHawkeBlack/Dualtone). A three-song preview of the Charlie Sexton-produced album due out early next year, this gives a glimpse at what Louisiana musician Ben Dickey’s own music sounds like when he’s not re-creating the late Austin troubadour Blaze Foley. The star of the biopic “Blaze” is not new to music — he played in bands in Arkansas and Philadelphia over the past couple of decades before releasing a solo album in 2016 — but he’s likely to get a much wider airing as a result of his newfound film-star status. Sexton’s production helps to make Dickey’s singer-songwriter-based tunes stand out; on “Way Out in the Cotton” in particular, they ride a deep groove built around compelling guitar leads. Here’s the title track:

COMING SOON

• SEPT. 14: Willie Nelson, “My Way” (Legacy).
• SEPT. 14: Asleep at the Wheel, “New Routes.”
• SEPT. 14: Band of Heathens, “A Message From the People Revisited.”
• SEPT. 14: Gina Chavez, “Lightbeam” EP, release show Sept. 15 at Antone’s.
• SEPT. 14: Cory Morrow, “Whiskey and Pride,” release shows Sept. 14-15 at Gruene Hall.
• SEPT. 14: Johnny Goudie, “Leper Hands” EP, release show Sept. 13 at One-2-One Bar.
• SEPT. 14: Ben Millburn, “Sunglass Moustache.”
• SEPT. 21: “Blaze” Original Cast Recording soundtrack (Cinewax/Light in the Attic).
• SEPT. 21: Jaimee Harris, “Red Rescue,” playing Sept. 20 at One-2-One Bar.
• SEPT. 21: Western Youth, self-titled, release show Sept. 21 at Spider House Ballroom.
• SEPT. 21: Will Courtney, “Crazy Love” (Super Secret).
• SEPT. 21: Jonathon Zemek, “Hillcrest.”
• SEPT. 21: Jane Ellen Bryant, “Let Me Be Lost” EP.
• SEPT. 25: Charlie Belle, “Like I Love This” EP, playing Oct. 13 at Whip In.
• SEPT. 28: Jerry David DeCicca, “Burning Daylight” (Super Secret).
• SEPT. 28: Nobody’s Girl, “Waterline” EP, release show Sept. 29 at Saxon Pub.
• OCT. 5: Molly Burch, “First Flower” (Captured Tracks).
• OCT. 5: Max Frost, “Gold Rush” (Atlantic).
• OCT. 5: Michael Martin Murphey, “Austinology: Alleys of Austin.”
• OCT. 12: Lindsay Beaver, “Tou  gh As Love” (Alligator).
• OCT. 26: Carson McHone, “Carousel.”
• OCT. 26: Jamie Lin Wilson, “Jumping Over Rocks,” playing Oct. 20 at Sam’s Town Point.
• OCT. 26: Isaac Jacob Band, self-titled (Union 28).
• NOV. 9: Sydney Wright, “Seiche.”

READ MORE: Check out all our recent Austin360 On The Record roundups