THURSDAY JUN 30, 2016
HOOPS
Bloomington, Indiana guitarist Drew Auscherman first started Hoops as an ambient solo project. After linking with bassist Kevin Krauter, drummer James Allen, and guitarist Keagan Beresford, Hoops blossomed into a full-fledged band dishing out sprightly lo-fi constructed with an attention to production and atmosphere that you'd expect from someone with a background in noise music. Following up the very good, very fuzzy "4U PT. 2," (which we named a song you need in your life a few weeks back) the four-piece is premiering their latest jam.
"Feelin Fine" is an aural capsule of summer; it's built on speedy, luminous guitar work and some murky melodies—the latter a little bit reminiscent of Real Estate's groggy earliest output. "The song is based on a melody Kevin wrote last year," Hoops told the FADER in an email. "We shaped it into a full arrangement over the course of a few recording sessions. We're all really into The Clientele, so that influenced a lot of the guitar." Hoops debut tape is out March 4th on Warm Ratio.
-Meilyn Huq, The Fader
Bloomington, Indiana guitarist Drew Auscherman first started Hoops as an ambient solo project. After linking with bassist Kevin Krauter, drummer James Allen, and guitarist Keagan Beresford, Hoops blossomed into a full-fledged band dishing out sprightly lo-fi constructed with an attention to production and atmosphere that you'd expect from someone with a background in noise music. Following up the very good, very fuzzy "4U PT. 2," (which we named a song you need in your life a few weeks back) the four-piece is premiering their latest jam.
"Feelin Fine" is an aural capsule of summer; it's built on speedy, luminous guitar work and some murky melodies—the latter a little bit reminiscent of Real Estate's groggy earliest output. "The song is based on a melody Kevin wrote last year," Hoops told the FADER in an email. "We shaped it into a full arrangement over the course of a few recording sessions. We're all really into The Clientele, so that influenced a lot of the guitar." Hoops debut tape is out March 4th on Warm Ratio.
-Meilyn Huq, The Fader
Shampoo
Shampoo is a three-piece band from Atlanta that plays a misty-eyed, blissful update of c81 indie and top 40 new wave. Their new album, Terrible Heat, is as emotionally wrought and pleasure-center direct as a soap opera, and draws influence from anime theme songs, new jack swing, deep psych, and lots of Madonna. It was recorded, re-recorded, and fine-tuned throughout 2015, and will be released August 17on Bear Kids Recordings.
Rush, Catherine, and Chandler met on the dance floors of the Atlanta pop underground some time around 2009, and finally started playing together during the winter of 2013. Their early shows and a rough, three-song demo garnered local attention and rave reviews. Tours up the east coast, and shows with TOPS, Pure Bathing Culture, and Memory Tapes followed.
Shampoo is a three-piece band from Atlanta that plays a misty-eyed, blissful update of c81 indie and top 40 new wave. Their new album, Terrible Heat, is as emotionally wrought and pleasure-center direct as a soap opera, and draws influence from anime theme songs, new jack swing, deep psych, and lots of Madonna. It was recorded, re-recorded, and fine-tuned throughout 2015, and will be released August 17on Bear Kids Recordings.
Rush, Catherine, and Chandler met on the dance floors of the Atlanta pop underground some time around 2009, and finally started playing together during the winter of 2013. Their early shows and a rough, three-song demo garnered local attention and rave reviews. Tours up the east coast, and shows with TOPS, Pure Bathing Culture, and Memory Tapes followed.
Meat
"Although it was somewhat overshadowed by recent releases from his full-time group, Doug Bleichner has released yet another impeccable EP via his solo project, Meat. Anyone who has heard his previous releases knows that his musical talent goes far beyond the frantic yet mechanical drumming he contributes to Warehouse. So it should come as no surprise that the multi-instrumentalist’s new EP, Wasted, is another expansive display of lush, understated pop.
Bleichner’s wandering guitar work never stumbles as he crafts and reworks hooks without adding any of their simplicity. For the most part these are sunny songs, but rather than sweaty midsummer pop, he imbues each track with contrasting shadows. It’s often hard to tell how many Meat songs are delivered with a wink, but regardless of intent, the observational lyrics are full of wispy nostalgia that sticks with the listener despite the veiled phrasing.
It should be noted that this is the first album that enlists Josh Hughes’ synthesizer talent. The fellow Warehouse member was also responsible for the recording and mixing, and the result is more textured than previous efforts. Apart from Hughes’ contributions, Bleichner plays every instrument on the record, a worthy accomplishment considering how well each piece falls together.
Wasted isn’t much of a departure from his previous EP, Buff Yuppie, but that only serves to remind the listener how many shimmery pop songs are swimming around in Bleichner’s brain. Despite the use of similar guitar tones and vocal mannerisms throughout the 7-song effort, the record never sounds repetitive. On the final track, “Highways and Trees,” he steps away from the beachy sound of the rest of the EP in favor of a stripped-down approach. The result is a minimal, magnetic cut that is more engaging than anything else on Wasted. Warehouse may be getting all the press right now, but if you overlook Meat, you’re missing the better of the two projects."
-Russell Rockwell / Immersive Atlanta
"Although it was somewhat overshadowed by recent releases from his full-time group, Doug Bleichner has released yet another impeccable EP via his solo project, Meat. Anyone who has heard his previous releases knows that his musical talent goes far beyond the frantic yet mechanical drumming he contributes to Warehouse. So it should come as no surprise that the multi-instrumentalist’s new EP, Wasted, is another expansive display of lush, understated pop.
Bleichner’s wandering guitar work never stumbles as he crafts and reworks hooks without adding any of their simplicity. For the most part these are sunny songs, but rather than sweaty midsummer pop, he imbues each track with contrasting shadows. It’s often hard to tell how many Meat songs are delivered with a wink, but regardless of intent, the observational lyrics are full of wispy nostalgia that sticks with the listener despite the veiled phrasing.
It should be noted that this is the first album that enlists Josh Hughes’ synthesizer talent. The fellow Warehouse member was also responsible for the recording and mixing, and the result is more textured than previous efforts. Apart from Hughes’ contributions, Bleichner plays every instrument on the record, a worthy accomplishment considering how well each piece falls together.
Wasted isn’t much of a departure from his previous EP, Buff Yuppie, but that only serves to remind the listener how many shimmery pop songs are swimming around in Bleichner’s brain. Despite the use of similar guitar tones and vocal mannerisms throughout the 7-song effort, the record never sounds repetitive. On the final track, “Highways and Trees,” he steps away from the beachy sound of the rest of the EP in favor of a stripped-down approach. The result is a minimal, magnetic cut that is more engaging than anything else on Wasted. Warehouse may be getting all the press right now, but if you overlook Meat, you’re missing the better of the two projects."
-Russell Rockwell / Immersive Atlanta