Mere Noise Records (label)
17 August 2012 (released)
17 August 2012
What do you do when your heart says yes but your head says no? You listen to your heart and support ace Aussie alt-roots-rockers Texas Tea of course!
Seriously folks, hard-working artists Kate Jacobson and Benjamin P. Dougherty are always one for quirky ideas to boost their meagre income, so both have come up with the latest quirky gimmick: the cassingle!
If it sounds like some weird hybrid between a single and a good old-fashioned cassette to you, then that’s exactly what it is. Seriously folks, Texas Tea will make at least seven bucks out of this latest concept, but they might make eight or nine bucks if you offer your support and order a copy!
Now, if you tell me you’re not in possession of a good old-fashioned tape recorder then quite frankly, you don’t deserve to listen to Texas Tea’s music (though generous as they are, Kate and Ben offer you guys a free download anyway).
Ok then, just like a single, the cassingle features a side A and a side B.
On the A-side we have ‘Heart Says Yes (Head Says No)’ and it’s a wonderful slice of nostalgia that’s as much of a hybrid as the cassingle. Relatively short with barely over two minutes, the track echoes early Buddy Holly (think ‘You’re The One’) while gradually drifting into melodious rock ‘n’ roll-pop a la The Ronettes. It’s incredibly catchy and refreshingly innocent, with uncomplicated lyrics that conjure up images of a fairground romance, heaps of candyfloss, heart-shaped bubblegum and a love story that may or may not have a happy ending. At least that is what the song does to me.
B-side ‘You're Too Tough’ is slightly reminiscent of Mazzy Star and Cowboy Junkies in arrangement, but ultimately it’s yet another great Texas Tea track that keeps Kate’s distinctive voice (and Australian accent) in subtle mode, perfectly matching a simmering guitar sound. The heat truly rises halfway into the song though, when restraint vocals change into a real passionate belter.
With a cover image that perfectly captures the essence of the two songs, Texas Tea are on to another winner with their inspired cassingle. Dip in and let yourself go!
Get the ‘cassingle’ or free download via: http://texastea.bandcamp.com/
(There are just 50 available online!) but it also comes with a download for your digital gadgets.
