2 bands, 2 new singles out now for your listening pleasure!
The first comes to us from The Higher State, whom POW has previously covered. The band’s newest single, “In the Morning I will Roam” b/w “Winter Is Blue”, was released Friday on LA’s Hypnotic Bridge records, and the 500 vinyl releases are already sold out on the band’s site so you KNOW it must be good!
When I contacted the band about covering the release, here’s what they had to say about themselves as a band:
“We formed in 2004..we have an undying love for US 60s garage band music. We have zero interest in trends, musical fashions going on around us. WE are very interested in esoteric matters…hence the picture on the new record. And our purpose is to make records that have a sound like the records we love listening to. We take no notice of people using words like ‘retro’ or ‘vintage’- to us that is meaningless. We’re not any of that. I guess we kinda exist in our own bubble? We are serious record collectors and have stayed true to ourselves from the start”
From the sound of the single, all of this is clear. Both songs are low fi, jangly pop that sound completely like an analog recording. Short and sweet, both songs clock in under 3:30, and both will stay stuck in your head. “In The Morning I Will Roam” is catchy, jingle-jangle 60s folk pop that The Higher State have become known for doing so well. The B side is a cover of Vashti Bunyan’s 1966 classic “Winter Is Blue”, given a complete makeover- sped up, fuzzed up and with added harmonies, it’s given fresh new life and as controversial as it might sound, I prefer The Higher States’ version even better than the original! Watch the band’s video for the song below:
There’s an authenticity in these recordings that really comes through, and really stands out against some of the overpolished releases that get sent my way.
According to The Higher States’ bandcamp page, “The Artwork has been hand painted by Los Angeles based artist and musician David Jasso, who recreated the occult ideas we portrayed to him via Stu Pope of Hypnotic Bridge, indeed it was a collaborative effort and The Higher State would like to thank David and Stu for their hard work.”. Even though you can’t get your hands on a physical copy now that it’s sold out, you can still stream it here, as well as check out the band’s past releases.
This week’s 2nd release comes from Davila 666. I know what you’re thinking- “where the hell has this band been?!”. Well, from the band’s latest press release:
Self-described as “Menudo on drugs,” Davila 666 set the world on fire with their self-titled debut in 2008, which took jangly psych-inspired garage en-español to new heights, transforming them into instant legends on the island and beyond. Their 2011 release, ‘Tan Bajo,’ was released to much acclaim from the likes of Pitchfork, NPR, Spin, and beyond. They toured the world, many reporting on their infectious live presence (more often than not their shows would turn into unforgettable sweat-soaked nights of debauchery that few would forget). They recorded a live EP at Jack White’s Third Man Records. They won over audiences all over the world. And then they stopped. In 2011, Davila 666 disbanded indefinitely.
Since then, members of the band have gone on to pursue other projects. Bassist AJ Davila has released three critically acclaimed solo records, frontman Carlitos Dávila has been working away with latin trap torch holders Füete Billete, Johnny Otis Davila has been touring with AJ and working on his own music.
The break, however, is over. Davila 666 will hit the road this July and grace stages across the U.S. (+Tijuana) with the same infectious energy that got them there in the first place. The band will also be releasing their long lost full length, ‘Que Viva El Veneno’, later this year. It’s been a while, they have a lot of pent up energy they’re saving for the stage.
The newly released track, “Huesos Viejos”, is their first in 5 years. Heavy, fuzzed up garage that’ll have you nodding your head and tapping your toes, it’s the sort of lo-fi rocker we love around here. Simple, to the point and with a punch of shredding guitar near its end, it’s a great teaser for what’s hopefully to come from the band in the future. Please Davila 666, POW needs more music from you!
You can catch the band on tour starting this July- their first stop is at Burger Boogaloo in Oakland!
