SXSW

Alright Scenesters?

As hopeful bands around the world prepare to bend over for the musical big-wigs in Austin I thought I'd give you a few acts from the festival that I reckon are worth a listen.

Maps and Atlases
Maps and Atlases's first EP 'Trees, Swallows, Houses' offered a delightful mash of spazzy guitar work, chaotic drumming and elegant vocal melodies. Their second EP 'You And Me And The Mountain' showed a move away from the math-rock workouts of their first and delivered a more mature sound full of layered textures and harmonies. They are currently working on their first full length album which I can't wait for.



Titus Andronicus
Taking their name from Shakespeare's first tragedy, this New Jersey band play loud and raucous lo-fi punk that drips in angst and emotion. Their debut album 'The Airing of Grievances' is a rough and ready record laden with brilliant lyrics and melodies that seem to spring from nowhere. The Guardian called it 'An unholy collision of the Pogues, Bruce Springsteen, Arcade Fire, the Jesus and Mary Chain and even lost Leeds shouters the Three Johns'.



Sky Larkin
I'm sure that this band need little introduction. The Leeds band hit SXSW having just released their debut 'The Golden Spike'.



Grizzly Bear
I may well be preaching to the choir here, but hey ho. Grizzly Bear, a band from Brooklyn NY, play a dreamy blend of folky experimentalism. Their latest record 'Yellow House' is an album awash with colours and textures. Grizzly Bear use flutes, chimes, percussion and electronics to create songs that build to shimmering climaxes.



Obviously I'm not suggesting that these are the only worthwhile bands playing at SXSW but I hope you like some, or one, of the bands I've mentioned.