Austin Sound

Consumed/Hot Buttered Anomie, the new split 12” release from Austin’s Beautiful Supermachines and The Distant Seconds, is an excellent example of how sometimes less is more. With about ten minutes of music for each band, the EP proves to be a nice coda for both bands after their well-received debuts. Any more than the three songs per band and things might have gotten too heavy; instead, listeners are left waiting and wanting more.

“Hot Buttered Anomie,” The Distant Seconds’ half of the record, picks up right where their red-hot debut Spectral Evidence left off in late 2008. “Between The Brackets” continues the taut and tense interplay between Matt Baab’s guitar playing and Brandon Bunch’s synthesizers that made much of Spectral Evidence so great. For fans of their debut, “Between The Brackets” will be the clear favorite on “Hot Buttered Anomie.”

Night One of the three pack of shows celebrating the release of Casual Victim Pile could not have gone off much better for curator Gerard Cosloy, Matador Records, and – most importantly – the five bands representing the Beerland-centric compilation. Sure, it might have been more reassuring to see their home turf packed with only familiar faces, but no one was complaining that many in the full house were hearing (and enjoying) the tunes for the first time. Blasting out five tight, blistering sets on a chilly evening, The Persimmons, The Distant Seconds, Kingdom of Suicide Lovers, Dikes of Holland and Follow That Bird generally did their fans, friends, and the Austin underground proud.

The Distant Seconds: your arrival and your debut album – Spectral Evidence – is a blessing to ears, a welcome entry to the overwhelmed trough of band slop, and a really excellent piece of rock and roll. Finally, an Austin band and an Austin record that celebrates the past while rocking in the present; and not the stupid unnecessary we-wish-we-were-in-leather-pants style rocking, but urgent twitchy punch-you-in-the-throat rocking. So many bands try to pick and choose influences to create a sound that’ll cater to the whims of a demographic, but it feels like the Distant Seconds just wrapped their arms around the rock canon to play honestly great rock and roll. Equal parts hip, punk, and classic, the result feels like a missing piece of the rock and roll puzzle.