It’s a dicey way to start an album: somber acoustic strums, an eerie flickering hum, a kitchen with a leaky faucet. The effect is like coming home to yr darkened apartment after you’ve left the door unlocked — common sense tells you that everything’s probably OK, yet still you have to hold your breath as you stumble in for the light switch. That’s how you roll when you’re card-carrying members of the Elephant 6 collective, though, and after over 20 years of sneaky entrances and bursts of light, Elf Power can certainly stride into that spooky moment with barely a bead of sweat. “Halloween Out Walking” may not be the thunderous entrance to blow the door down, but it’s the best one to remind the world of their own peculiar magic, enchantments that harken back to both their peers like Olivia Tremor Control and the Gerbils, as well as older alchemists like John Cale and Brian Eno (indeed, they covered the latter waaaaaaay back on their second album, When The Red King Comes). So breathe easy, because Elf Power didn’t disturb a single valuable while you were out. Honest.
Elf Power’s new LP, Twitching in Time, is out tomorrow via their own Orange Twin label.
Elf Power will perform on Thurs., May 18 at 529 and Fri., May 19 at the Georgia Theatre. Both shows are with Tobin Sprout (GBV). For the 529 show, doors are at 9 p.m. Admission is $15-17. 21+ to enter. For the Georgia Theatre, doors open at 10:30 p.m. Admission is $10-12. 21+ to enter.
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Web: elfpower.com
Facebook: @elfpower