Tag Archives: LA

Quick Thoughts on “Contact”, the New One from LA’s Froth (New Album, Outside (briefly), Due Next Year on Wichita Recordings)

LA's Froth announce new album, Outside (briefly).  (Image taken from Froth's Facebook page).

LA’s Froth announce new album, Outside (briefly). (Image taken from Froth’s Facebook page).

Froth, “Contact”

LA-based Froth (whose 2015 release, Bleak, we drooled over at length) is back!  The ink drying on their new deal with esteemed Wichita Recordings, the band have announced a new album, Outside (briefly) (check the Saville-esque artwork, above), and shared the video (courtesy of the good folks over at The Line of Best Fit) for new track, “Contact”.

“Contact” is, at first, a bit of a departure from the more raucous swirl and burn found throughout much of Bleak.  It’s more downtempo – low-end synth burbles loom over a steady, robotic drum beat, creating a heady, detached psych feel.  After that ominous beginning, though, the fog gradually lifts at around the 3:45 mark, revealing an absolute rapture.

Wichita Records will release Outside (briefly) on February 17 – it’s available for preorder here.  Froth can be found on the fbook, and you can make contact (sorry) with their earlier work on Bandcamp.  The band also have some tour dates coming up (more are listed in their page feed) – here’s hoping for more when the album drops.

“Wherever You Are”, by LA’s Winter, Is a Dream Pop Wish Upon a Star

Winter, “Wherever You Are” (self-released 8/18/16)

LA’s Winter is a musical project of vocalist/guitarist Samira Winter, with recording and live work from David Yorr, Garren Orr and Matt Hogan.  “Wherever You Are” is a new release from the band – with it, they’ve crafted a woozy, sinuous track fit snugly at the intersection of psych- and dream pop.

Opening with a kaleidoscopic, Vangelis-like keyboard intro, “Wherever” features Winter’s feather light, whispered vocals amid arpeggioed, thrumming guitar lines and layered effects, all building towards an absolute skyscraper of a chorus.  Musical sign posts abound, from ones you might expect (Pale Saints, Cocteau Twins (the phaser/delay effect at the 3:45 is particularly Guthrie-esque), MBV, the airier edge of trip hop), to some you might not (there’s hints of the more wide open, arena ready psych of Spiritualized, as well as a something that reminded me of “Us and Them” by Pink Floyd).

The notes on the group’s Bandcamp page indicate the song was initially recorded in the singer’s bedroom.  This makes sense, as there’s a feeling here akin to staring out of the window into the night sky, searching for answers or a new way.  Goodnight, (dark side of the) moon.

“Wherever You Are” is available to download (for $1!) via Bandcamp.  From some of the posts on Winter’s fbook page (you can also check them on the twitt), it would appear the band is at work on a new full length.  Here’s hoping.