Taking cues from Kate Bush, Bjork, and lugubrious 4AD artists like This Mortal Coil and Dead Can Dance, Brooklyn’s Tesha delivers a refreshingly anti-pop track to fight Christmas’ usual sonic banalities. The edgy, electronic artist is about to release a new EP and just unveiled single Funeral, a track about her mother’s funeral (Tesha lost both of her parents a few years ago). Otherworldly and minimal, the song is driven by a slow bass line and a plodding rhythm section, while almost unintelligible vocals seem to express a kind of thoughtful sorrow that sounds at once profound and alien. The EP is scheduled for a January 25th release. 

Curtis Lowe is a new electronic music project from NYC-based producer Conor Cook.  The debut EP, Sad Bangers Vol. 1, is due January 18 via the Spotify Direct program. The first single “Breaking Me” (streaming below) was unveiled today, unveiling a melodic house sound with the souful vocals of Naomi Wild. The EP was produced by Cook, who also plays guitar on every track. The songs were all co-written by Cook and the featured vocalists. 

Cook explains: “I wanted to create modern a sound that is based around classic house elements and good songs.  I’ve been writing with some great musicians and friends over the last year and am excited to begin releasing music under Curtis Lowe. The songwriting happened in a variety of sessions in NYC and LA, but most of the production was done alone in my apartment in Brooklyn over the last year. I drew a lot of the inspiration for the sonics of the project from 90’s/Chicago house music, married with modern production elements, and darker songwriting themes.

Balms’ anticipated album Mirror hits the streets in February 2019 and the intriguing taste they’ve given us so far is their newest single, “Candle.” Self-proclaimed bummer pop, this chugging indie rock jam might make us a little more anxious if it weren’t for the cooing, sweet vocals shining through the darkness. It’s like Grizzly Bear took a dip in the grunge bath and we want to jump in. Every part of this song—the composition, the lyrics, the feelings—is a multilayered mélange that’s hard to shake. “I want your soul,” he says, a charming, echoing call. Songs like this are why categories like dream rock exist. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

Photo credit: David Brendan Hall

Austin’s indie-folk quartet Much 2 Much just wrapped up their November residency at Swan Dive last Thursday evening. The lineup was a female-centric smorgasbord of intricate harmonies, instrumental versatility and head-turning musical approaches. 

The first act of the evening was a duo set by two of the women of Ley Line, Emilie Basez and Maddy Froncek. The duo played soft and slow, but with raw power and a unique emotional intensity that kept the inhabitants of Swan Dive silent and attentive as ever. Basez and Froncek effortlessly exchanged duties on acoustic guitar, banjo, upright bass and percussion, seamlessly shifting between songs without missing a beat. Their set included originals, some sung beautifully in Portuguese, and covers by artists such as Gillian Welch. 

Much 2 Much – fronted by Erin Thelen and Angie Holliday – took the stage next. With fluttering, ethereal harmonies and concise songwriting, Much 2 Much are masters of dynamics and catchy hooks. Thelen and Holliday are each proficient at guitar and keys, and both bring different methods to their instruments, so no single song sounds quite alike. Backed by a powerful rhythm section consisting of Tyler Irvine on drums and Alex Browne on bass, Much 2 Much plowed through their set with smiles and fervor to an uproarious crowd.

The last act of the evening was the trio of Allysa Grace Music. Grace’s music is an intriguing blend of jazz, soul and prog-rock, with songs that often descend into what feel like free-form jams. Grace’s stage presence is strong, and she addresses the crowd with an affable ease that belies the complexity of her music. In a town filled to the brim with guitar players, it’s refreshing to see a band without guitar. Instead, Grace’s keyboard is the centerpiece instrument, with bassist Ben Bradshaw often taking lead excursions on his five-string bass. 

You can catch Much 2 Much at The Lodge and Tavern in Wimberley on December 22nd. Listen to a live version of "Footsteps" below! – Ethan Ames