Austin Music Minute

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August 22, 2019

To Live Is To Be Haunted

By: Laurie Gallardo

Your Austin Music Minute host was struck by the backstory of Houston ambient/experimental duo Twin Lovers‘ self-titled release. Its waves of darkly atmospheric dream pop unveil something…eerily cybernetic pulsating at its core.

Melissa Jean and Markus Cone have described their LP, released earlier this summer, as being loosely based upon the unsettling dystopian vision of Philip K. Dick‘s award-winning 1974 sci-fi novel, Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said. The story is one classic example of a common theme underlying much of Dick’s work, exploring what defines reality – specifically, personal identity. What was once a normal, everyday existence might reveal itself to be a surreal, nightmarish scenario, fueled by something external – and often sinister.

(And down the rabbit hole your AMM host went…)

Twin Lovers performs tonight at Hole In the Wall, 2538 Guadalupe, sharing the bill with ATX bands Mother Water House and Vegetable Kingdom. Perhaps…just perhaps, each would feel right at home on a brilliantly bizarre reimagined Blade Runner soundtrack – circa 1982, thank you very much. Or, perhaps you dream of electric sheep?

The music starts at 9 p.m. Very recommended.

-Photography by Phil Ford.


Episodes

October 14, 2021

Back Down Home

Songwriter and Wood and Wire frontman Tony Kamel presents a personal treasure on his latest solo album, Back Down Home, recorded at producer Bruce Robison’s all-analog studio and released via The Next Waltz label. There’s something free-flowing and inspiring about recording in that kind of environment, which created the perfect laid-back vibe for Kamel’s poetic […]

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October 13, 2021

Plainfield Tapes

  William Harries Graham released his latest EP Plainfield Tapes this past summer, the follow-up to the beautiful St. Claire LP that came out at the start of 2021. Like his 2016 debut Foreign Fields, they show the Austin-based artist pushing beyond Americana into a more fluid, ethereal and intimate atmosphere, a mystique within hushed […]

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October 12, 2021

Welcome To Texis

It’s awesome that it seems like several reviewers are gleefully feasting on a line delivered by Sleigh Bells‘ Alexis Krauss on “SWEET75,” the opener on their fifth studio release, Texis – yes, that’s an “i” and not an “a.” Krauss poses this question: “Aren’t you a little too old for rock ‘n’ roll?!” Absolutely not. […]

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October 11, 2021

Lacerate

Futon Blonde recorded today’s AMM featured track “Lacerate” at vocalist Janson Sommers‘ home, after pulling together a demo written around a singular drum break. Their latest release on London-based label The Animal Farm, is about the art of the understated counterattack. The answer to dealing with confrontation: “…Duck and smile” after the initial strike, but […]

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October 9, 2021

ACL Fest Sat/Sun Picks

You know how we do it on the AMM. Today’s selections include ACL Fest picks for tonight, Saturday Oct. 9, and tomorrow, Sunday Oct. 10, as well as plenty of options for those wishing to avoid the Zilker Park chaos. -Tonight at the festival, AMM favors Modest Mouse, Doja Cat, Dayglow (Sloan, thank you for […]

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October 8, 2021

…And There’s More

It’s easy to get carried away with so much happening this weekend – which is why there’s a lot of info on today’s Austin Music Minute. You’ve got ACL Festival selections for tonight, Friday Oct. 8, and tomorrow afternoon, Saturday Oct. 9, along with some very cool alternatives if you’re avoiding Zilker Park. If you’re […]

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October 7, 2021

ACL Fest: Weekend 2

Time for round two, music lover. The second weekend of the Austin City Limits Music Festival presents local and touring artists kicking things off tomorrow afternoon, Friday Oct. 8, at Zilker Park. And the AMM is here with another handful of picks to start the day out right. After your visit with The Breaks over […]

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October 6, 2021

¡Vamos!

The AMM stands by its use of the word “explosive” today. Seriously, this one’s going to be a knockout at Central Machine Works, 4824 E. Cesar Chavez. The mighty Brownout, featuring members of Grammy Award-winning Grupo Fantasma (and a band proven to do some of the most mind-blowingly badass cross-pollenated covers of tracks by Public […]

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