Album review: Fading Yellow to drop debut EP and host Chess Club release party December 1

Austin psychedelic pop and art-rock band, Fading Yellow are set to drop their first EP, Stereo Assessment Friday, December 1 on all streaming services. The same day, the talented foursome are set to host a release party at Chess Club with an expanded lineup presented as Fading Yellow Arkestra with support from Large Brush Collection. The evening promises to be an entertaining one for local music fans at the intimate Red River Cultural District venue.

The four-song EP demonstrates Fading Yellow’s exceptional musical talent. The album was produced and recorded by acclaimed Scary American Studio owner, Charles Godfrey who cut his teeth at the highly regarded recording studio, Sonic Ranch near his native El Paso. Godfrey has worked with a wide range of successful artists including,  Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Whiskey Myers, Swans, And You Will Know Us By the Trail of the Dead and many more. With Godfrey at the production helm, Fading Yellow has created a praiseworthy debut record.

The group is comprised of Ed Gonzalez (vox/guitar), Jared Abramowitz (keys/synths), Enzo Ampuero (bass) and Charlie Cassells (drums). Gonzalez, Abramowitz and Ampuero all met while attending Florida State University and later added Cassells to the roster after relocating to Austin in 2022. After securing a house in East Austin to live and rehearse from, Fading Yellow began performing in Austin in January of this year, entering the local circuit and playing with acts such as Nolan Potter’s Nightmare Band and other Austin outfits before they co-hosted and played the unofficial SXSW event, “Webberville Block Party” with Play to the Plants and The Cosmic Clash this past March. In August, the group toured in support of Strawberry Milk Cult’s (Houston) Texas tour segment.

Eventually, Fading Yellow were ready to enter the studio and selected Godfrey to produce their first record which appears to be a good decision as Stereo Assessment turned out to be a remarkable first effort for the upstart musicians. The record adroitly sets the table for a companion EP due out sometime next year.

Opening track, “Secret” finds Fading Yellow introducing their music to listeners with a lush, laid-back song that evokes Mild High Club and Stereolab, who are cited as influences of the group. With a hypnotic bass line laid down by Ampeuro that is complimented by Cassell’s drum work, the song gradually gains steam as Gonzalez intones vocals while keyboards and guitars blend with the rhythm to evoke a chill vibe that sets the tone for the rest of the record. The jammy outro promises an expanded live presentation we’re interested to see played on stage.

“Floral Disarray,” the second song on Stereo Assessment picks up the pace with an insistent drum beat and bass line. Horn-like synth sounds come in which will likely sound incredible during Friday night’s show with live saxophone planned along with vibraphone and organ. The chill vibe is still present but the track comes through with a Neo-jazz sound a la, Black Midi, another of Fading Yellow’s influences.

Track two leads nicely into, “Tranquilizer” which leads with synthy horns and an upbeat tempo punctuated by Gonzalez’s vocals. The song is perhaps the best tune on a recording that has four musically superior compositions. The feel-good sax solo at the conclusion of the song also leaves room for extended jams when performed live. This song, although one of the shorter on the EP, perhaps best showcases the band’s songwriting and musicianship. This material doesn’t sound like a band just releasing their first record. It’s complex with multiple layers of sound that keeps giving the more you listen.

The EP closer, “Dead Air” slows the tempo again akin to EP opener “Secret.” Incidentally, both the opening song and this one are the longest tracks on the EP. Jazz-inspired drums and bass drive this track which also brings a heavy dose of psych-rock sounds back into the mix, crescendoing into a pleasing, spacey finale. Once listeners cue this EP up, it’s likely they’ll return to the record for multiple listens, hopefully with a nice cocktail and a joint to accentuate the vibes.

Catch Fading Yellow Arkestra and Large Brush Collection this Friday at Chess Club. Doors are at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the door for $10. RSVP at Do512 here. Follow Fading Yellow on Instagram here.

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