Houstonist Listens: Followed By Static's "Lullaby/AADC"

From time to time, something wonderful happens in the universe, and Houstonist gets passed some music to review. Occasionally this wonderfulness materializes in vinyl form, an occurrence that makes our ears perk up and take notice. So when Austin duo Followed By Static offered to send us a copy of their new 7" single, Lullaby, naturally we answered with a resounding yes. [Note to other bands: take the hint. Send us stuff.]

Pressed on marbled white vinyl, Lullaby bears the inscription "Room Clearing Music." For some listeners this would be more than accurate, but for our noise-rock/non-rock adoring selves, it is an invitation to something special. Suddenly we felt giddy and curious, like Lucy Pevensie had just led through the wardrobe.

The title track is built upon an innocent acoustic guitar riff and the slight hiss of a samba beat, reminiscent of a +/- summer jam. But as soon as it feels comfortable, the track rips open in a dirty, lumbering fuzz riff that erases all previous expectations. The paired guitars command attention: an electric in a heavy fuzz bath and the still present acoustic, while frontman Eric Static's vocals drone forth until everything is swallowed into an low, oceanic fade.

The b-side, AADC, is named [as far as we can tell] for its simplistic chord progression. Like Lullaby it opens with with an acoustic riff that gives way to a wash of psychedelic fuzz. The whole thing sounds like the Sex Pistols crashing a Suicide show, with Eric's strong vocals backed by some sustained whoa-ohs for the chorus. The music is grimy, raw, and most of all, catchy. Followed By Static has blended punk and psychedelic influences into an excellent brand of lo-fi noise rock that should appeal widely to Houston's scene.

You can catch Followed By Static when they play Wednesday, July 29th at Super Happy Fun Land with The Wiggins and The Sils, which will run you seven bucks and should be more moving than church. Lullaby is out now on Austin's Rare Dust Records.