Austin Sound

EPs as a format have come to serve a number of useful functions for artists. They can be tightly distilled little nuggets that capture a band at a certain point in their evolution, a cohesive and full narrative in and of its self. They can also be a dump of random material that simply doesn’t fit in with the vision of a larger project or album, unreleased material that is worthy to be heard, but incongruous with a band’s typical vision. And they can also signal a transition for a band, easing fans into what to expect without forcing the harsh shift in a dramatic new direction on a new LP. Where exactly the Octopus Project’s new EP, Golden Beds sits in their oeuvre and functions for the band can’t really be seen until we see where they head on their next full-length, but the release could very well be heard as representing any of these conceptions of the EP. For sure, even with just the five songs, there is a new sound to the O-Pro that could very well hint at big aesthetic changes for the quartet in the future, but the EP also gestures in a number of different directions and could simply be the purging of quality material that simply doesn’t flow with the group’s overall sound. Golden Beds could just be the odd hiccup in their trajectory, or it could be the work that we look back to in the future that harbingered a sea change; either way, it’s a compelling offering from one of Austin’s most dynamic musical ambassadors.

Could the Octopus Project be any more adorable? We mean that in a good way, but seriously, they’re going to be your kid sister’s new favorite band, if they aren’t already. That’s alright though, because it just ensures that your kid sister will have good taste in music. Thanks O.P.! The local quartet premiered [...]

Next month, just after they take the Stubb’s stage with Explosions in the Sky on July 4, the Octopus Project will release a new enhanced EP titled Golden Beds. Yeah, we thought it was kind of weird too, especially after their UK-released single “Wet Gold” on Too Pure. We’re preparing with trepidation for golden showers! The EP will be their first stateside offering since 2007’s amazing Hello, Avalanche, and will feature five songs and 7 videos. Given the OP’s flair for the visual, the EP sounds like a cool combination. Included on the release, which drops via Peek-A-Boo Records on July 14, are the previous UK singles “Wet Gold” and “Moon Boil,” and three new songs. Check out the tracklist and video’s below, and you can pre-order and stream the new EP here.