Impressing in melodic rock and emotive balladry alike, Abandon is the new album from The Local 12, a quartet from south New Jersey. “Wave At The Window” opens the album with a melodic array of vocal harmonizing and crisp guitar/piano interplay, showing shades of The Housemartins in its nostalgic piano-pop enamoring. “Godforsaken” follows with a haunting, Nick Cave-esque melancholy; lyrics bemoan of “running out of time to make ends meet,” as haunting piano complements the eerie introspection. The funk-laden infectiousness of “King of Small Time” follows, and it’s evident quickly that The Local 12 are an act that excels with an eclectic aesthetical appeal.
Another standout, “Hitchhiker’s Guide” traverses through a mellow, psych-friendly range of keys and talkative guitar reflections — reminiscent of ’70s prog-rock in its compelling build. Album finale “Stranded” also rouses in its emotive outpouring, with piano, guitar, and strings converging for a memorable balladry, with a perky uptick arriving past the five-minute turn — “chance to be somebody great.” Abandon is an enjoyable success from The Local 12.
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“The King of Small Time” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup, as part of the artist’s promotional campaign.
