Hands down, a major standout at this year’s SXSW was The Ghost of A Saber Tooth Tiger. Your humble Austin Music Minute maven had the opportunity to see them at a day show presented by Austin Psych Fest at Hotel Vegas, playing tracks from their (at the time) forthcoming album Midnight Sun. A few years have passed since their last release, but critics have been quick to point out – often with gushing praise – that it’s been well worth the wait. And right they are.
This is some of the best work to come from the collaborative efforts of Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl, who spent a great deal of time experimenting with different instrumentation and recording techniques during their songwriting sessions, pairing seemingly mismatched sounds that wound up working well together in extraordinary ways. Overall, it feels heavier, trippier. Without a doubt, Midnight Sun is their hardest-rocking album to date. Over-stating the obvious? Perhaps. But it really is.
Do not miss The Ghost of A Saber Tooth Tiger tonight at Red 7, 611 E. 7th St. Punk/garage rockers Broncho start out the night. Doors open at 9 p.m. Very recommended.