Art-pop collective Elk City surfaces brilliantly on ‘Above The Water’ album
21 October 2022
Newsdesk
Friday brings the release of the much-anticipated ‘Above the Water’ album from Elk City, one of the most intriguing collectives to emerge from New Jersey’s bustling underground music scene as of late. With a sophisticated sound that combines the pureness of 10,000 Maniacs, intrigue of Throwing Muses and the spirit of Jefferson Airplane, listeners will revel in their blend of indie rock and atmospheric pop inspired by the 1960s folk-rock scene.
From the New Jersey city of Montclair come the indie rock / dreamy pop collective known as Elk City and their coming to our attention is no coincidence given that their new full-length album, which has already received notable acclaim, is out this week. Titled 'Above the Water', this music is sophisticated – vivacious, harmonious and memorable due to many factors, not least of all is the remarkable vocal timbre and convincing delivery of vocalist Renée LoBue, recalling Eddie Brickell at times and Jefferson Airplane’s Grace Slick at others.
With LoBue and producer/drummer Ray Ketchem at its core, today’s line-up also includes guitarists Sean Eden (Luna) and Chris Robertson (Feed, Punch Havana) and bass guitarist Richard Baluyut (Versus).
Released via the newly-launched Magic Door Record Label, which Ketchem and LoBue co-founded with Guided by Voices drummer Kevin March, this is the band’s sixth album, following up the lead singles 'That Someone' and 'Your Time Doesn't Exist'. They’ve been prolific in their output since forming in 1999, also releasing three EPs and numerous singles.
‘Above The Water’ was recorded, mixed and mastered at Magic Door Recording, which Ketchem (whose production credits include Guided By Voices, Luna and Gramercy Arms) opened in 2017 as an acoustically lush refuge for musical expression and experimentation. The studio’s roots trace to his partnership with legendary studio designer George Augspurger to transform a cavernous warehouse into a freeform studio where vintage microphones, modern studio gear, and bespoke sound tuning are intended to elevate and inspire.
As of October 21, the 'Above The Water' album is available through all fine digital outlets, including
