It's nice when you get an email in your inbox and it contains an mp3. It's even better when the mp3 is actually really good.
This just so happened to be the case when I received an email containing "Taken Alive" by Austin's HMS Foolhardy. It's a nice little track in the vein of Britpop. Check it out. Oh, and their bass player, Carissa Ries, could be added to my bass player crush list.
What's the Deal: This Austin trio has a very '90s feel, but in a good way. They have an indie pop sound that touches down in some familiar territory. The vast majority of songs are plump with rich, affective hooks. Their newer songs are produced by Louie Lino who works with Nada Surf and Matt Pond PA among others, and that influence really shows.
One of their tracks, "Overseas", isn't too far removed from something off Sunny Day Real Estate's Diary. Soft-spoken choruses about relationships and constellations mingle with guitar strums and keyboard produced melodic electronics. "Taken Alive" is another song that brings to mind those early, melodic days with songs full of feeling of the 90s emo revival (before it was tainted by all those bands who wore that genre designation like a badge). Slow and somber guitar sparkles with piano and a steady rhythm section support the sweetly sullen harmonies.
Something Interesting: The group began in Berlin in 2003, but came to Austin in 2006.
Other Tracks Worth Checking Out: "Same Procedure" and "White Trash Rain"
Greetings from Berlin-Friedrichshain. It's a happy coincidence to be here on the occasion of introducing new music. Berlin is a city that moves in quiet chaos. It's a most interesting contrast to Austin.
We hope very much that you like the new tracks. Many have helped along the way. Particularly, our producer Louie, who made the project possible - and Paul from the Boxing Lesson, who blew out a blazing improv solo on "Stars Tonight."
Carissa leaves no doubt about her skills on the G&L and delivers some haunting vocal textures. Stephen, of course, performs at his usual stratospheric level on the skins. We spent a lot of time crafting harmonies. Lyrical content is very personal. But we cling tightly to a rock ethos. For us, making music is about delivering the basics: rhythm, melody, and poetry. The result, we hope, strikes a note with you...
