Austin's Future Clouds and Radar follows-up it's critically lauded double CD debut with Peoria, a cinematic narrative about the illusory nature of mortality.

posted Oct 29, 2008, 12:44 PM by Vu Nguyen

From Fanatic

Austin’s Future Clouds and Radar follows-up it’s critically lauded double CD debut with Peoria, a cinematic narrative about the illusory nature of mortality. Download the lead single “The Epcot View” now.

Austin-based Future Clouds and Radar, the eclectic art-pop ensemble headed by Robert Harrison, released their ambitious self-titled double-disc debut last year. A growing critical consensus says the album ranks among 2007’s best. Harp Magazine named Future Clouds and Radar “Debut Artist of the Year” and called the release fourth best record of overall.

It seems musical vision continues to emanate from the group who is set to release its sophomore recording, Peoria, on November 4th, 2008. Where the first album showed Harrison as the central figure in a large musical cast, Future Clouds and Radar’s latest offering finds the core band focusing their kaleidoscopic vision into a single cinematic narrative about the illusory nature of mortality. Throughout, Harrison stays true to his genre-hopping eclecticism, leading the journey through a maze of fuzz-box vocals and ethereal keys.

Here’s what smart people said about Future Clouds and Radar’s debut release:

“A triumph of schizophrenic musical vision... a beautiful and brilliant mess... magnificent double disc collection of pop gems. 4 stars.” – Paste Magazine

“Whether Future Clouds and Radar is essaying dreamy, electronicaized psychedelia, blue-eyed soul anthemry, Latin-flecked jangle-pop, or full-guns a-blazing, fuzzed-out garage, the material is executed with a jazzlike precision and suffused with a deeply emotional, spontaneous vibe.” – Winner 2007’s “Debut Artist of The Year,” Harp Magazine

“Future Clouds and Radar remind you why God made double CD packages: to experiment wildly while creating pop that glistens.” – Philadelphia Inquirer

“Audacious? Sure. But undeniably impressive.” – NPR

“Future Clouds and Radar have enough bright, catchy pop songs that could easily turn heads one song at a time, but their debut album, two CDs and 27 tracks worth of enchantment, shows that the long-form statement isn’t done yet. Robert Harrison was the singer and songwriter in Cotton Mather, a somewhat more straightforward pop-rock band that released three albums before disappearing in 2001. With a new assortment of collaborators devoted to fulfilling his wildest visions, Harrison is back with a record distilling even more influences than The Beatles/Guided By Voices styles of his previous band. The songs are richly melodic, ranging from short but powerful bare-bones hooks to thickly arranged, fully developed compositions featuring horns, keyboard, and other additions to the basic rock band format.” – No Depression

“Sprawling orchestral art rock.” – New Yorker

“A debut double album in itself is ambitious, but the range of style Future Clouds and Radar tackle on theirs is almost ludicrous. The Austin group’s self-titled release takes a wide-angle approach, it seems there’s nothing these guys won’t try.” – Time Out New York

Future Clouds and Radar Live:

11/06 Austin, TX Saxon Pub

11/12 Chicago, IL The Empty Bottle

11/13 St. Louis, MO Off Broadway

11/14 Louisville, KY Gerstle’s

Peoria Tracklisting:

Release Date: November 4^th, 2008

01. The Epcot View (MP3)

02. Old Edmund Ruffin

03. Feet on Grass

04. Mummified

05. 18 Months