This is Matt. He and I played in the band Castles in high school. It faded into many other projects over the years, but he is now creating music under the moniker M. Pyres, as well as running his own cassette label, Patient Sounds. Patient Sounds is home to M. Pyres, Cochise, Lush Cola (Tim Perry of Weed Diamond), as well as Seattle’s own Cradling and Martha! Mother. Matt has played a large role in guiding my eager listening ears. Making mixes of his music and friends’ music, as well as many other bands from which I still draw influence.

About a year or so ago, he started telling me about this great scene on the east coast: Underwater Peoples, Kurt Vile, Woodsist, Mexican Summer, Real Estate, Julian Lynch. Starting to dive in further now, Lynch’s tunes are making my days brighter than a Gaga stage setup.

Julian’s music has a nice stripped-down quality to his music at most times. When there is any sort of build it really isn’t one instrument standing alone as a lead. The songs will move as if they are but one machine with synchronized limbs. His recordings remind me of some of the things Matt and I have recorded together and separately: definitely tape and definitely cared for, but not overanalyzed. As well as touring most of the summer, Julian Lynch has two upcoming releases: Droplet on a Hot Stone 7″ out through Underwater Peoples and Mare LP out through Olde English Spelling Bee.

You can order his releases here
and look at his tour poster here.

‘Droplet on a Hot Stone’

‘Just Enough’

I want to tell you a story about Tennis, but first I need to tell you about yoga. I don’t know that much about yoga. I have been a few times and I would like to make it a regular habit. The last Introduction to Yoga class I went to focused on the backside of our bodies. My back was curved inward and outward, my neck was stretched to lengthen my spine, and my lower back was aching from the pressure. My mind was clear and our teacher started to paint the portrait of our back being like sails that were catching the wind. In between poses he would remind us that the wind had shifted. Things were about to change physically and spiritually, new adventures awaited.

This is the story of Tennis. Alaina and Patrick currently reside in landlocked Denver, Colorado where they decided to follow a dream of sailing the seas. Looking for nothing, but gaining the inspiration create and inspire. Their winds have shifted over time, but they are to create joyous songs and share them with anyone who will listen. This is the story of Tennis.

Baltimore

It seems to be all about the here and now. Twitter. Status Updates. Your Kindle uploading the morning newspaper before you wake up. What is fresh? Tomorrow’s veggies today. What is hot? Family Portrait. Just check out the video featuring their song “Mega Secrets” here. Family Portrait is immediately linked with visions of the beach nights, lights of buoys, and the decaying dream of boardwalk heavens. How is it that the sound of what is to come is also the sound of nostalgia? I’m not sure, but there is a trance I fall into every time “Mega Secrets” or “On The Floor” fill my speakers. I like it: all I need is my memories and the music of what is to come.

Be sure to check out both the video and mp3 of “Mega Secrets,” which will be coming out on a 7″ with Andrew Cedermark. Family Portrait also helped us out with the mp3 of “On The Floor.”

Mega Secrets

On The Floor