Best EPs of 2019

"Texas’ El Lago may come from a tiny coastal town, but their reinvention here sounds larger than most places. Heading more for a post-punk meets shoegaze structure, there’s plenty of weight in each track. The thundering drums on “Citadel,” the dark depths of “Moths” and the breezy heft of “Endless” all give way to new beginnings."

—Closed Captioned

"Axelrad has collaborated with Wonky Power Live to host the socially distant drive-in concert live from their rooftop with sound broadcast via FM transmitter to guests in their cars. The concert is sold out."

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—CW39 Houston

"A very much welcome turn to a darker punk-bent sound, ultimately resulting to something very genuine that also stood out as one of the year's highlights.

"Moths is one of the record's coldest and bleakest moments, a piece through which the band's density, dedication, and forward thinking mindset shines. Now the song comes with a dark-tinged, sci-fi-like, dreamy and almost Lynchian new video."

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—destroy//exist

"This whole EP is full of remarkable moment after moment. It’s even set up perfectly, heavy and strong at the beginning, full of artistic flare and bold moments, but it narrows its focus on the band’s pop sensibility as it nears the final number."

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—Austin Town Hall

"We at Closed Captioned and the team at Wonky Power wanted a lineup that represented the best that Houston has to offer [including] headliners like Fat Tony, Narrow Head, Kam Franklin, Gio Chamba, El Lago, B L A C K I E and Sergio Trevino."

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—Closed Captioned

Lauren is interviewed on ShoutoutHTX. The interview covers local recommendations, a book that has had a personal impact, and how the pandemic has been an opportunity as well as a challenge musically.

"What's impressive about the EP is that it's a glimpse into what is coming. Touching on their past while dipping their toes into a more post-punk sound, the songs have a tenebrosity to them without getting mired in sadness or gloominess. El Lago is the perfect mix between a band rising up and a truly independent artist, and we wanted to share a bit of their world with anyone who'd listen."

—David Garrick

"Lauren Eddy's delicate and charming vocal feels like it shouldn't work on this track, yet it does. And amongst the fussy buzzsaw guitars it adds an intriguing element to the song. It almost feels like a singer like Kate Bush fronting My Bloody Valentine." 

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—Indie Midlands

"Frontwoman Lauren Eddy's voice peeks out, Kazu Makino-esque, from behind shimmering clouds of dreamy instrumentation, allowing plenty of room for meandering guitars to stretch out and explore the sonic oasis EL LAGO has created.

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—Bored in Pittsburgh

"From the striking spunk of opening piece, Citadel, to the dark coldness of Moths and the psychedelic expansiveness of Solo, the stellar Pyramid is full of overpowering highlights. El Lago make a firm forward step, appearing like a first rate shoegaze act which doesn't hesitate to make a reality out of their nonconformist and clear vision for their art."

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—destroy//exist

“'Endless' is centered by the prerequisite layers of fuzzy and distorted guitars and ethereal vocals of shoegaze within an expansive song structure — but with a muscular and forceful insistence."

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—The Joy of Violent Movement

Best EPs of 2019

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"Texan shoegazers El Lago turn toward a darker, avant-garde direction, presenting an approach which seems utterly compatible with the straightforward shoegaze sound of their 2017 LP. Pyramid plays out like an exploratory, daring attempt by an auspicious band whose audaciousness payed off quite well from all appearances and sounds."

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—destroy//exist

"Miller Outdoor has hosted amazing events for 98 years now, and always at no cost making them the largest free theater in the country. This week they will host their first ever Miller Summer Mixtape Series. The three days will end with some rock and roll and synth pop from El Lago, Swimwear Department and Raycheal Winters. Houston’s got great talent and we'd like to show it off."

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—Houston Press

"The fifty minute performance features songs form the band's latest EP Pyramid alongside songs from their debut full length Colors. Fans of the band who have never caught them live get a glimpse into their energy."

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—Closed Captioned

"The four piece has steered away from dream pop into darker waters. On their new Pyramid EP they tread closer towards a future of post-punk touched with nuance from the shoegaze world. The end result is a searing and hefty reminder that great bands evolve."

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—Closed Captioned

"As the city is slowly opening back up, bars and music venues are trying to find ways to roll with the new normal. Axelrad will be hosting a drive-in, rooftop concert on Saturday, May 23 featuring local psych rockers El Lago and Flower Graves."

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—Houston Press

"With pulsing baselines, percussive blasts, and Eddy's breathy vocals, El Lago creeps into darkly dizzying spells in not only their instrumentation but with their anxiety-provoking visual elements as well."

—Trish Connelly

"The vocals lay a touch above the music like a haunting memory before the track changes direction and takes listeners to a place that feels like it's above the planet. Steering in a new direction here, it makes anyone who hears the song excited for what Pyramid will ultimately sound like."

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—Closed Captioned

"When we first crossed paths with Jaron Hall, we were watching him on lead guitar for El Lago. What intrigued us most about his playing was not just that he could play lead in two completely different projects, but that he could bring his own touch to both with ease."

—David Garrick

"There's something about this tune that crafts this brooding sensation; it seems to almost have an air of traditional goth flare... though with Lauren Eddy's voice there's always going to be this sort of angelic dreaminess working its way into the tune. They seem to play with that balance between dark and light here."

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—Austin Town Hall

"A sky and surf-sweeping single intended to be played on repeat. The vocals, keyboard chimes and storm-sorcery guitars all stir into the vortex like a whirling cyclone of sound."

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—Week in Pop