Presented by Spirit of '68 Ethers & En Attendant Ana (A Trouble In Mind Twofer)
Ethers (Chicago)
https://etherschi.bandcamp.com
Ethers are a Chicago “supergroup” featuring former members of Heavy Times, Outer Minds & Radar Eyes. Ethers' eponymous debut album (out August 24th) is full to the brim withragged, soulful rock and roll, heavy on hooks, with stark arrangements and sticky melodies that hang with an unexpected resonance. Peppered with cynicism and charm, the album yearns with a hopeful ache for better days ahead.
En Attendant Ana (Paris)
https://enattendantana.bandcamp.com
Parisian garage pop outfit En Attendant Ana formed in 2014, fusing melodic songwriting, a fuzzy lo-fi approach, and a tone that married the jangle of Britain's C-86 scene with some of the Velvet Underground's attitude. After debuting in 2016 with the noisy six-track Songs from the Cave EP, a collaboration between the Montagne Sacree and Buddy Records labels, the quintet scored an American distribution deal with Chicago's Trouble in Mind label, which issued their full-length debut, Lost and Found, in the spring of 2018.
Spissy (Bloomington)
https://spissyband.bandcamp.com/
'Spissy is the rare and obvious duo of Aaron Denton and Ben Lumsdaine. I say "obvious" because they fit together and compliment one another so well, their creative pairing seems almost inevitable. Aaron's ability to craft a delightful, memorable hook alongside Ben's penchant for arrangement, vibe, and skill makes Spissy an absolutely satisfying listen. "Rare", because what draws these two dudes together seems hard to find; a studious, almost aggressive, attraction and ambition toward moderation. That is to say, every piece of this record, even and especially the riskier bits, has been carefully considered and measured. Every synth sound and every rhythm is the right choice. Each unexpected turn and gratifying conclusion hits precisely the right spot.
But don't get me wrong. For every "right choice" that's made, a consequence must be considered. What emotion follows this chord progression, or these lyrics? It's a balancing act. Spissy have tightened themselves down into a niche. They've struck a symmetry between pleasant music and raw expression. And they've hit their mark so accurately, then shown their vulnerabilities so appropriately...it's like they're the Ed Harris' Gene Kranz at the end of Ron Howard's Tom Hanks-starring 1995 space-race masterpiece, Apollo 13 of 2016 indie rock. This record is ambitious, it's considered, and it's meticulous, but - what makes it great - Spissy haven't forgotten that it's also a crap shoot.'