Total Babes In Their Heyday

I'm loving Heydays, the second LP from Ohio (and Cloud Nothings offshoot) Total Babes. It reeks of a slacker guitar pop vibe that Malkmus et al might have nodded nonchalantly to, if they infused their sound with a little more distortion and serration. It isn’t overtly serious though – come on, they are called Total Babes! – and it is this precipice between earnestness, aggression and flippancy that they teeter confidently on. The addition of Emeralds alum John Elliott on synth has infused tracks like 'Repeat Gold' and 'Can I Turn You On' with gravitas while opening up new, unexpected horizon. And Cloud Nothings’ frontman Dylan Baldi pops up on 'Circling', delivering a skronked-out sax throughline that helps to elevate an already nutso track (Elliott's space-invaders effects are most prevalent here also) to a delightful level of aggro intensity.

I actually was reminded of retired Brisbane band Nova Scotia when listening to segments of Heydays, especially tracks like 'We'll Come Around' and the title track. There is a irreverent racket imbued with an innate sense of melody and a sunny disposition that makes the album a blessing, just on the cusp of summer. Pre-order it here (out through Wichita Recordings later this month). Total Babes are supporting the brilliant Pile in London on the 10th and 11th of June (at the Lexington and Old Blue Last respectively) - cannot bloody wait.

The Pond? Michael's In The Pond!

Ah, I've always wanted a legitimate reason to quote that here on Planet Masala, and thanks to Brooklyn's resident rust-edged slackers Shark? (who I've spoken of before when they released True Waste in 2011), it has been handed to me on a platter like the head of John the Baptist.

But we aren't here to talk about Amity Island OR gruesome moments in biblical history - we are here to get excited about California Grrls, Shark?'s debut single release (out through Old Flame Records - responsible for putting out Total Babes, The Pharmacy and early Cloud Nothings - earlier this month on blood-red cassette), which is in itself a taster of their incumbent LP Savior. What impresses me about this band is their cross-sectional sound - the off-kilter surf rock that Black Francis and his Pixies were guilty of, the loose DIY blueprint embedded in the compositions a la Robert Pollard at his most acerbic - yet there is nothing truly malicious here - its four dudes getting rolling drunk on rocking out. Which makes the question mark that signifies their band name so poignant - sharks are fucking cool, the king of their domain, but they are also pretty damn dangerous, which doesn't fit - or does it? Confusion reigns. Much like 'California Grrls' - a quiet intro leads to some skronky shambling garage rock that holds all but disdain, which would have David Lee Roth rolling in his grave, such is his love for the West Coast ladies (what do you mean, he isn't dead?)

California Grrls can be bought here.

These Total Babes Be So True

Cleveland lo-fi band Total Babes bring out their debut LP Swimming Through Sunlight (through Old Flame Records and Continental Mind) on August 30, and there is another taster off it. Latest track 'Be So True' is typically rambunctious and shambolic - you can hear the Cloud Nothings influence, then it's thrown into a vat of molasses. Lovely stuff indeed! Listen and download the track below. Pre-order Swimming Through Sunlight here.

Total Babes-Be So True by Old Flame Records

Total Babes Put Me On Cloud Nine

Dylan Baldi and his Cloud Nothings have been going from strength to strength, yet you cant keep creative people down! Two of the members from the Cleveland garage pop clooective, Jayson Gerycz and Joe Boyer, have joined forces with Chris Brown and Gary Spolarich to form Total Babes, who are relatively in the same vein, just a little thrashier (so a little Wavves in there too!). Which is all good - I love Cloud Nothings' innate sense of overloading you with sugary sweetness without you minding the aural calories! Total Babes' debut album Swimming Through Sunlight is out at the end of August (through Old Flame Records and Continental Mind). If you are in Philly, Brooklyn or Cleveland in the next three days, you'll be able to catch the lo-fi rockers in their element. If not, enjoy the tune below!

Total Babes - Like They Always Do