Texas - The Shacks

Two years after the release of their 2016 titular EP, The Shacks are back with their first studio album, Haze. Rife with spacious harmonies and inventive melodies Haze expands and improves on the EP with a more intricate effort creating seductive undertones that whispers translucent truths. "Texas" is one such breakthrough from the album about the Wild West genre that uses a semi-folk interplay of the beat, synthesizers, riffs and accompanying vocals. An indication that The Shacks are more than just an ambient group; they're a nuanced collective that pushes the boundaries of what is expected in music. Although, the tracks on both efforts sound similar, with Haze, The Shacks have found a congruent sound and it's addictive.

"Texas" sticks out from the track listings due to its distinct sound and motif, but doesn't stray too far to seem out-of-place on Haze as the entirety of the album incorporates multiple elements and perceptions. However, the psuedo-folk is something new from The Shacks, as is the use of satire. The group mimics a Western score (with an apt name of "Texas" to bout) while singer Shannon Wise sings about gun shots, golden hillsides, showdowns, bloody Southern land and an absent lover who is discovered to be apprehended and killed by a police officer. An almost typical summary of a Western. The use of satire is essentially the basis of the tune, the simplicity of a Western and the ability to describe the genre in roughly three minutes.

Although comical, there is something to be said about having been able to incapsulate an entire genre of storytelling in a song. The use of shakers, a heavy but hollow beat, acoustic guitars, and high pitched synthesizers are able to represent a sort of saloon indicative of the Wild West. In a veritable sense, the song is like a journey, taking you from scene to scene as the lucid and mystifying cadence of Wise's voice, along with the thematic instrumentation creates a very palpable and enchanting experience.

Haze was released on March 30th, which means you can check out "Texas" and the other 12 wonderful songs now ("Follow Me" is particularly fantastic). To discover more about The Shacks and to check out Haze, use the following links as your guide:
https://theshacksband.bandcamp.com
http://radi.al/TheShacksHaze
https://soundcloud.com/theshacks   
https://bigcrownrecords.com/artists/t...