Real life couple and the musical duo behind Houses, Dexter Tortoriello and Megan Messina, are having a very busy 2013. Following a string of shows at SXSW, their sophomore album, ‘A Quiet Darkness’ is set for release on April 16th via Downtown Records. The opening track, “Beginnings,” is sparse and ominous. The droning, understated and melancholic harmonies mixed with the growing intensity of the ambient instrumentation create a larger than life soundscape that sets the listener up for the dark ride ahead. The entire album is ambitiously conceptual: a married couple attempt to reunite along Highway 10 after a nuclear disaster, ending tragically with their inevitable deaths. If that’s not enough, the duo spent time capturing found sounds and videos in abandoned houses along the real Highway 10. The layers of intentionality and artistry put into this body of work make it rich with texturally chilling atmosphere. Houses are set to spend April touring with Cold War Kids, followed by a long run in support of Baths. – Jacqueline Caruso
