Photo by Alison Scarpulla
On “Minstrel’s Gallop,” the last track on Holy Wave’s new album, Freaks Of Nurture, the band abruptly cuts out at the end, giving way to the sound of droning cicadas. The sample underlines the Texan-ness of Holy Wave, which was born in El Paso but now resides in Austin. The members don’t wear cowboy hats, but they do tap into Texas’ rich psych-rock history, from the 13th Floor Elevators to the Black Angels.
Even without those cicadas, Holy Wave conjures up some humid, hazy sounds on “Minstrel’s Gallop.” A sitar-like melody slithers its way through the song, weaving in and out of the jangly groove. Even if the vocals are a little subdued, the band sounds feverish. Download the song below and catch Holy Wave live in Studio 1A tonight at 9 p.m. They’re also celebrating the release of Freaks Of Nurture with a show this Friday, February 26 at Barracuda.
–Art Levy
Subscribe via iTunes or Stitcher to get the KUTX Song Of The Day delivered to you daily.
