Listen to KHOL’s favorite sounds from the Mountain West on the Spotify playlist above.
While the year has only just begun, there’s already been a flurry of new music released by bands from the Intermountain West. Music discovery is at the core of what we do at KHOL, and Intermountain Best has provided me with a wonderful opportunity to dive deeper into our local and regional music scenes. Take a listen to these artists who have made a strong impression on me thus far…
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Since 2008, James Cooley has been releasing music under the moniker “Mesita,” with his most recent album, “III,” hitting streaming services this February. Originally from Littleton, CO, Cooley’s music uses heavy sampling and warm keyboard textures to give the music a sense of breathability. For fans of Animal Collective, this project lies somewhere in the dissonance between analog and digital, acoustic and electric, and rural and urban.
Isaac Winemiller – Strawberry Moon
On his sophomore album, “Rolling Hills Road,” Bozeman’s Isaac Winemiller delivers an ethereal look at life in the mountains. With his vocals drenched in reverb and underneath a curtain of arpeggiated synthesizers, Winemiller’s voice is as hazy as a valley drive through an inversion layer. His weapon of choice, the bass guitar, remains at the forefront of “Rolling Hills Road,” much as it did on his debut album.
Got a soft spot for dream-pop the way I do? These newcomers from Salt Lake City have developed a finely-tuned sonic identity for their upcoming album, “Mirror.” Indigo Waves’ post-punk surf rock tones revolve around a tight snare drum, splashy ride cymbals, and a healthy dose of delay and echo to create a sound brighter than the western sun. FFO: Alvvays, Beach Vacation, King Krule, Crumb.
The Boom and The Bust – Embers
From Pinedale, WY, we have the debut album from songwriters Michelle Humber and Nate Curry. A librarian and oil field worker by day and musicians by night, their Americana sound remains authentic to the genre while bringing a fresh perspective to small-town life in the 2020s. Inspired by the sweeping Wind River mountains, “Embers” is the culmination of over a decade’s worth of collaboration between Humber and Curry.
Youth Lagoon – Lucy Takes a Picture
New from acclaimed independent record label Fat Possum Records comes Youth Lagoon’s fifth studio album, “Rarely Do I Dream.” Upon returning to his childhood home in Boise, ID, musician Trevor Powers drew inspiration from an unexpected discovery of camcorder home movies. Samples from these videos are sprinkled throughout the record, weaving Powers’ daydreams with real life experiences. On this track, Powers’ celestial vocals float above a sea of atmospheric keys and minimalist percussion arrangements.
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Support for Intermountain Best comes from Arts for All and the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund.
