What is it about Austin that makes it the music mecca that it is? I’m not sure either. The latest thing I’ve heard outta that fair Texas city is the latest from Black Before Red called Belgrave To Kings Circle. Pleasant enough, this is the sort of stuff that the indie rock geeks are gonna be all over. Combining good pop sensibilities with the layered and varied instrumentation that checks itself to a who’s who like Arcade Fire meets Clap Your Hands Say Yeah or even What Made Milwaukee Famous. Get the picture?
Even with an underlying sense of despair, the album is bouncy, melodic, and not uncatchy. I really like the drums and the whole rhythm section. They play it tight, bright, and manage to keep everything afloat and tied together. I also detect a hint of the breezy post-rock sounds and also some pedal-steel tinged Americana.
I should hate this because there really isn’t anything that makes is different from so much other indie rock, but I actually like it a bunch. Maybe it is just because the band is so tight and obviously knows how to write a good tune and they just don’t dwell on any one thing too long. Six of the eleven songs on Belgrave to Kings Circle are under 3 minutes in length and almost all the others clock in at under four.
Something about Black Before Red and this album just sounds really good right now. I think you should give it a listen. Belgrave To Kings Circle is out now on I Eat Records.
MP3 | Black Before Red – Teenage America Belgrave To Kings Circle
MP3 | Black Before Red – Underneath Gold Belgrave To Kings Circle
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They remind me of Beulah without a horn section. Not bad.