Album Of The Week - "Above The Water" by Elk City

Elk City are an alternative rock band from Montclair, New Jersey, whose pristine delivery and razor riffs cuts through the fuzzy fog of alternative rock, and shines a beacon of light. Comprised of vocalist Renée LoBue and producer/drummer Ray Ketchem, Sean Eden (Luna) and Chris Robertson (Feed, Punch Havana) on guitars and Richard Baluyut (Versus) on bass, Elk City are an exemplary act, show-stopping performers, whose latest album “Above The Water“, released on 21^st October 2022, has been selected as The Manc Review’s “Album Of The Week”

It’s a wonderful album that shines from stellar heights of neo-folk and glows from the bioluminescence aftermath of neo-blues. It’s a supreme delivery of uber-cool vocals, virtuoso guitars and chilled out beats that create an open house of preening professionalism. It’s an album that highlights the depth and high calibre of Elk City, and how individually and collectively their talent exudes a breezy bohemianism and solid showmanship. It’s an album that free-flows a fluidity of energy and rumbles and tumbles through the timelines of alt-rock, whilst expanding the parameters of post-punk. It’s a nomadic wonder that jangles and floats in the soul sanctuary of ethereal rock, trailing a haunting beauty that seeps throughout.

It’s a shimmery shower of shoegaze, that dips in the whimsical whirlpools of indie-pop, drifting on the circular motions of neo-psychedelica. It’s a pleasure to the senses, that glides with grace, aiming for the moon, whilst cascading on the constellations of art-rock. It’s also an album that beats to the tribal beats of new wave, rattles from the cacophony of alt-country and shimmers from the incandescent dusk of its twilight tones.

If Broadcast, Patti Smith and Eddie Brickell had gone on a soul retreat, stargazing beside the sea, then I reckon Above The Water would provide the soundtrack. It’s an Aurora Borealis of streaming sonics, a deep-set palette of celestial colours, dancing in the sky, providing a panromantic view of its elongated elegance.

Order the album https://linktr.ee/elkcity
Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/album/above-the-water/1648069921
Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/user-168836748

The ‘Above The Water’ LP is out now, available across fine digital outlets, including Apple Music, Tidal, Qobuz and Spotify, as well as Bandcamp. The band will be playing their album release show in Boston (Jamaica Plain) at The Midway (together with Sleepyhead).

CREDITS
Renée LoBue – lead vocals
Chris Robertson – guitars, backing vocals
Ray Ketchem – drums, backing vocals
Sean Eden – guitars
Richard Baluyut – bass, backing vocals
Recorded, Mixed & Mastered by Ray Ketchem at Magic Door Recording, Montclair, NJ
Song written and performed by Elk City.
© 2022 sound is crazy music (BMI)
Single cover artwork by Ray Ketchem. Album artwork by Ray Ketchem & Renée LoBue

TRACK LIST
1. That Someone
2. Someone’s Party
3. Apology Song
4. Your Time Doesn’t Exist
5. A Family
6. Don’t You Wanna Try
7. Floating Above the Water

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