ATO US Vinyl & CDs

Review: Deer Tick has announced their new EP Contractual Obligations," set for release via ATO Records to considerable excitement among their fans. The EP features eight tracks recorded during the sessions for their recent album, Emotional Contracts. According to singer/guitarist John McCauley, the band was pleased with the material that didn't make it onto the album, leading to this compilation. The band, including guitarist Ian O'Neil, drummer Dennis Ryan, and bassist Christopher Ryan, recorded these tracks with producer Dave Fridmann, aiming to capture the raw energy of their creative process. The EP includes the new single 'Sacrosanct,' a track the band has reworked multiple times. McCauley notes that Fridmann's production provided the necessary spark to bring the song to life and Contractual Obligations continues the band's tradition of heartfelt, dynamic rock-and-roll.

Review: ATO Records' RSD 2018 offering is a collaborative affair featuring previously unheard songs from psychedelic soul artist Nick Hakim and Onyx Collective, an outfit that has a rising reputation on NYC blossoming modern jazz scene. Hakim's "Vincent Tyler", in particular, is superb; a loose, languid, string-laden soul torch song that will have the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end. In contrast, the two Onyx Collective offerings are fuzzy chunks of slightly psychedelic post-rock madness with occasional wild post-punk sax solos. While nowhere near as emotive as the A-side, they're certainly very satisfying.