New Music From Gus Englehorn

Montréal-based singer-songwriter and official SXSW 2022 artist Gus Englehorn is set to release his sophomore album Dungeon Master on April 29 via Secret City Records. It’s likely the cutest, heaviest, strangest rock ‘n’ roll record you will hear this year – perhaps best demonstrated by the chapped and pleading advance single “Exercise Your Demons.” Beginning with Englehorn begging, “Hit me, I want you to hit me.” From there, it explodes into a headbanging path to salvation anchored by Englehorn and partner Estée Preda‘s gnashing guitar and drums. “This one is partially inspired by David Lynch’s Blue Velvet, particularly the scene where Dorothy asks Jeffrey to hit her,” Englehorn says. “It’s about how we often turn to destructive behavior to try to make ourselves feel better when all you really need to do is get a little exercise.”

The new single follows a pair of similarly delirious, off-kilter singles: “The Gate” and “Tarantula.” “Me voilà!,” he declares mid-way through the throws of “The Gate,” announcing the arrival of a singer who can coo and howl and snarl with his eyelashes fluttering. Englehorn’s electric visions are studded with synths and strings and manic pixie backing vocals, but at the heart of it is he and Estée’s gnashing guitar and drums, as heard on the stomping, paranoid “Tarantula.”

FCC Clean

RIYL: Daniel Johnston, Violent Femmes, Jad Fair, Jon Barba, The Velvet Underground

Label: Secret City Records

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US Tour:

03/10 – Pittsburgh, PA – Collision
03/11 – Athens, OH – Casa Nueva
03/12 – Louisville, KY – Whirling Tiger
03/14 – Denton, TX – Rubber Gloves
03/15-19 – Austin, TX – SXSW