With acts like The Love Language and Megafaun, the area’s music scene has been breaching the national spotlight as of late, and it does not seem to be slowing.
Cassingles Vol. 1 compiles the best of what’s next out of the state, featuring Embarrassing Fruits, Birds of Avalon, Yardwork, Lonnie Walker, Gross Ghost, Whatever Brains and more.
Despite most bands not being signed to compilation sponsor DiggUp Tapes, local artists put their collective skills together to create a local medley with a consistent sound, on cassette and digital formats only.
DiggUp Tapes is a relatively new record label based out of Durham where founder and Lonnie Walker member Brian Corum began to release his band’s material.
Cassingles Vol. 1 isn’t thrown together: Each song could create buzz as a single for any band’s upcoming album.
With all-exclusive tracks, this compilation is a chance for local bands to have their names heard outside of the Triangle, and each brings its A game.
From Fat Camp’s comical “Banana Hammock” to the carefree jangle of Gross Ghost’s “You Tell Me,” the album showcases the spectrum of the local rock scene. NAPS and Veelee add sentient tones with emotional rock that bends your mood and Birds of Avalon completes the circle with scathing guitars that Jimmy Page would be proud of.
Lonnie Walker takes a chill pill on “Heartbreakin’ Ball,” but stay true to form as the band waltzes over its humbling acoustic rock like Bob Dylan in his prime.
The uber-funky “Snail Trail” by Snails, which includes members of Future Islands and Lower Dens, adds a lively diversion with deep vocals, ghostly whirs and a humorous tale.
