Our Breaking Sounds feature for the week is the debut 7" EP by yet another promising Columbus, OH outfit called RTFO Bandwagon. Tagging along the same lines as fellow hometown lo-fi heroes Times New Viking, it's not surprising to see Rich from Psychedelic Horseshit in the ranks, and draws a clear line to their modus of operation. Although the associations may be tipping off essentially where they're coming from, this is one of the first of their brethren without the vast fuzz-layered tonality. Where TNV and Psychedelic HS occupy the blown-out side of the homegrown pop-scuzz spectrum, RTFO Bandwagon lean steadily into the cleaner produced, folk-inflected variety that sounds oddly shocking by comparison. Almost as if the Holy Modal Rounders records their parents were hiding fell into their hands just as the amphetamines started to kick in.
With only a CD released by their local imprint, Columbus Pancake Factory last year, this first 7" on Houston's Dull Knife Records cuts right to the point and chucks forth three soft-core earth shakers that show the gentler side of the Columbus noise party contingent, and adds proof that you don't have to be blown out to be mind-blowing. The lead-off track, "New Jack" covers familiar ground with a rollicking acoustic send-up of the Velvet Underground rhythm passed through a oscillating folk filter not far off from Thee Oh Sees' sound, yet cornering an even more organic feel. With almost gypsy-flavored backup vocals and percussion, RTFO Bandwagon may get accidentally lumped in with the weird beard crowd, yet their scope of compassion reaches far beyond those mundane pitfalls to reveal a promising band taking its maiden steps toward capturing your attention, and the ears of underground rock fanatics everywhere. Pressed in yet another micro edition of 300, it's best that you act fast to get a copy for yourself before the supply runs out, and check out their songs on the VoT Radio Player, or right HERE for a free download of the title track, along with five more songs from their CD, and possibly your last chance at picking up their records direct from the band. Keep an eye on these guys to run wild and hopefully they'll be making the rounds through the Midwest sooner than later.
check out a music video for RTFO Bandwagon's "Mothers Might" from their previously released CD, right here...
