Tim Darcy and Ben Stidworthy’s former band Ought got compared to Talking Heads frequently; their current group, Cola, left those comparisons behind but they still sound more like a band from New York 1978 than Montreal 2024. That’s not really a criticism. Along with drummer Evan Cartwright they’ve crafted a minimal, jagged style that owes a lot to Television and early Feelies. Cola’s second album, The Gloss, is the sound of three musicians who know each other well, know their way around a hook, and know how to make room for each other instrumentally. You can listen to that below.
We ask artists to make us playlists from time to time and Tim Darcy has made us one called “Astral Groove” which he describes as “New Age/Ambient/Experimental-leaning music that incorporates, to varying degrees, elements of what we might still have to call rock n’ roll.” It includes songs by Laraaji & Blues Control, Claire Hamill, and more. Check it out below.
Cola’s Tim Darcy – “Astral Groove” Playlist
Steve Kindler – “Back Country”
Steve Kindler, a violinist from Oregon, made this lovely album while living in Hawaii I believe. Violin, drum machines, and synths for the most part.
Travelling – “Lifetones”
A cut from For A Reason, the only release from This Heat’s Charles Bullen and his neighbor Julius Samuel. An interesting combination of the post-punk and eastern/dub/reggae influences.
Claire Hamill – “Tides”
This is a truly singular album made up almost entirely of vocal compositions, sampled and sung. This track features percussion that sounds like someone beating an oil drum in an airline hanger—pop gold essentially.
Nick Pynn – “Feu de joie”
Nick Pyne is a British experimental composer and violinist. He has also famously collaborated with the 41st greatest stand up comedian of all time, Stewart Lee.
Off World – “Wet Max”
This duo of Toronto’s Sandro Perri and Lorenz Peter is making some of the best contemporary entries into the annals of ‘Fourth World’ music. For fans of all things Hassell/Eno.
Operating Theater – “Sastanasa”
The Irish theater troupe/synth pop act that brought your Spotify algorithm “Spring Is Coming With A Strawberry In The Mouth.” Here is another haunting cut that sounds like a sunset on a day where you have some stuff to think about while staring out of a window.
Dariush Dolat-Shahi – “Sama”
An incredible piece for synth, field recordings, and Tar (a Persian lute) from the Iranian-American composer.
Laraaji & Blues Control – “Astral Jam”
What a collab to come across! Best played very loud in a car made before 2002.
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Cola’s summer tour hits NYC’s Bowery Ballroom on July 17 with Mhaol.
Cola – 2024 Tour Dates
07.05 – Toronto, ON @ The Garrison &
07.06 – Cleveland, OH @ Mahall’s &
07.07 – Detroit, MI @ Lager House &
07.08 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle &
07.11 – Nashville, TN @ Third Man Records &
07.12 – Atlanta, GA @ 529 &
07.13 – Asheville, NC @ Eulogy &
07.15 – Washington, DC @ Songbyrd +
07.16 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s +
07.17 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom +
07.18 – Troy, NY @ No Fun +
07.19 – Boston, MA @ The Rockwell +
07.20 – Montreal, QC @ Theatre Fairmount +
7.26 – Teulon, MB – Real Love Summer Festival
10.10 – San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar *
10.11 – Los Angeles, CA @ Zebulon *
10.12 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill *
10.14 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios *
10.16 – Vancouver, BC @ Wise Hall
10.17 – Seattle, WA @ Madame Lou’s *
11.11- Maastricht, Netherlands – Muziekgieterij
11.12 – Paris, France – Supersonic
11.13 – Utrecht, Netherlands – Ekko
11.14 – Groningen, Netherlands – Vera
11.16 – Berlin, Germany – Hole44 (supporting METZ)
11.17 – Hamburg, Germany – Aalhaus
11.19 – Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club
11.20 – Glasgow, UK – Broadcast
11.21 – Dublin, IR – The Workman’s Club
11.22 – Manchester, UK – YES (The Pink Room)
11.2 – London, UK – The Dome
& = w/ Devon Welsh
+ = w/ Mhaol
* = w/ Mind Shrine