OK, it’s time to clue you in: there’s another budding post-rock community taking form in Austin, TX. Given the city’s reputation it might not be that much

9 years ago

COSMS


OK, it’s time to clue you in: there’s another budding post-rock community taking form in Austin, TX. Given the city’s reputation it might not be that much of a surprise: boutique, niche and post-rock are words that go together pretty well and Austin is basically ground-zero of post-rock, with bands like Explosions in the Sky and This Will Destroy You hailing from there. Regardless, there’s a collective of bands taking the lead of the once-illustrious scene (more on that, very soon) and a host of young bands producing not only post-rock but original post-rock to boot.

Take COSMS as an example. This once-trio now consists of only two members, using the drums and a bass guitar to make some of the most ponderous and deep-striking post-rock you’ll find. Their sound is tinged with some retrowave to boot, giving the whole thing a glaze of sweetness and a glimmer of hope. Head on over the jump for your first taste!

I’ll be honest with you: this track might not be the most reflective of the rest of the album but it speaks to me the most. Maybe because it reminds me of my beloved The Samuel Jackson Five or maybe it’s just something about the synths but ‘Xie Xie’ just smacks of insight, honesty and a dedication to the music. In that sense though it is very reflective of the rest of the album: it features a host of these stumbling bass lines, dreamy leads and a voice behind the drum kit that’s distinct and endearing.

All in all, this should be a good initiation into what’s going down in Austin. We plan to have a lot more from the fledgling scene there, so keep your eyes on this space. In the meantime, chill out with COSMS’s Arteria and dream of days long gone.

-EK

Eden Kupermintz

Published 9 years ago