In October 2007, the Dallas-based collective - which has played together for many years in different bands and projects - started meeting several times a week in a small, attic rehearsal studio to explore a new direction and sound they'd experimented with but never fully defined.
This new direction took them away from the alt. country pop of past projects and down a slower, darker road - guided by a light the Red House Painters or Calexico might have followed had they been from Texas. One that American Analog Set might have pursued if they were more into Kozelek than Can.
The result was
THE MOON
- nine unhurried vignettes of slow Southern music that strip bare the influence of past projects and finding something new, something true to themselves.
THE MOON
was recorded and mixed in Dallas, TX at Pleasantry Lane Studio with Salim Nourallah and Rip Rowan.
It was mastered in New Windsor, NY at West West Side Music by Alan Douches (Midlake, Sufjan Stevens, My Morning Jacket).
"Elkhart's first record is as profoundly beautiful as most great artist's fourth record. A little bit of that Wilco alt-country aesthetic without feeling like a ripoff...songs that are remorseful and tragic without feeling overly nostalgic and trite....a bit of dust on their guitars and dullness to their drums, they come off as thoughtful, introspective, and authentic. The Moon is covered with breathy, deliberate vocals, kind of like a subdued Silversun Pickups, copping the same kind of dreamy, wistful feel, but softer, older, heavier. I really like how Elkhart takes its time with this record. It has an old, well-traveled feel...it's the same delivery the Wrens use, and I think we all know how fantastic that band is. Like the Wrens, Elkhart evokes powerful emotions with so little, making the whole record seem effortless. It makes me want to drive somewhere far, even though I know there's nothing there for me. This isn't a record about getting what you want. It's about wishing you could go back and do it over, so maybe, just maybe, this time around you have a shot."
DELUSIONS OF ADEQUACY
"Elkhart has created an exemplary document that can almost be considered a concept album. With the hushed and whispery vocals tying the 9 tracks of The Moon together, this album establishes a pace that compels the listener to join along as if reading a book and discovering more as the story continues to unfold. This is a great example of a band cutting ties with a safe sound and looking to, perhaps, add another "alt" onto any other "alt" that many will try to lump them in with."
TWANGVILLE
"The title track is, for me, the standout. Reminiscent of the Red House Painters, but a little less oppressive. Simple lyrics, a looping melody, capturing...something. Something lonely. Something between two people. Something of...an understanding?...empathy?...an acceptance?...of the others need, despite never knowing, truly, what affects them. Touching. Haunting."
GET YOUR MELANCHOLY ON
"Elkhart’s album The Moon is a slowly paced journey Westward toward the setting sun. Lead guitar hangs in the air like golden-hued nostalgia and the melodies from this Dallas band gently unwind. RIYL: John Strohm, American Analog Set, Beat Radio, etc…"
CAN YOU SEE THE SUNSET FROM THE SOUTHSIDE
"Wispy vocals, soft strumming guitars, and a penchant for diving head-first into heartbreak give this folksy Dallas indie quintet a ghostly essence that translates well on lonely nights. "Unraveled" is a certain smash hit that will evoke is-he-singing-about-me reactions." HOUSTON MODERN LUXURY
"Whispered vocals, slowed-down tempo and lingering guitar notes work well for this band, especially when you listen closely to the lyrics.The Moon is definitely a record for late nights spent alone." QUICK/DALLAS MORNING NEWS
"Quite splendid...the soft, dreamy sounds of each and every track on The Moon literally made me want to just keep driving into the starlit night." LIFE OUTSIDE THE BUBBLE
"I was impressed right away by their live set. They have the Americana rootsy vibe without the typical voice associated with it. Travis Hopper is a good singer, his voice reminds me of an Roots/Americana version of Thom Yorke. I've been checking out their album The Moon today and it's quite tasty." BONA FIDE DARLING
"Elkhart is a Dallas band that has put together a low key, quiet, almost alt-country record. One piece American Analog Set, one piece AM era Wilco, all mixed with hushed, Elliot Smith-like vocals, The Moon is a subtle mix of relaxing guitars, easy percussion and storylike lyrics. Nothing on The Moon is rushed, and the lyrics, which take us from Houston to the Old Monk to Galveston Island, make each of the individual songs fit together in one continuous story. Great driving music for a lonely freeway, The Moon won’t get you too riled up while listening, which is exactly what they want. Very easy to listen to, and perfect for chilling out to, you definitely can’t go too wrong by throwing on The Moon, grabbing yourself a drink, and blissfully relaxing." DOUCHEBAGFACE
"The Moon has [a] restrained, country soft-rock feel...the textures shimmer akin to a star flickering in the distance. Elkhart comes across as genuinely laid back and confident. The third track, “My Brother,” clocks in just under six minutes and drives like a “little engine that could” The same goes for “Little Bear” where Elkhart, in their own way, seem to be letting themselves go a little. By far, the best cut on this album is the song “Houston”. It opens with simple drums doing no more than keeping time, guitars condensing and then fading away on the peripherals. Over that, Hopper sings with youthful abandon, “It was never the same when they tore down where it all began. Will I ever see you again in Houston?” This is a song where the simplicity and the stripped-down nature of The Moon benefits by allowing room for the vocals and the guitars to coalesce for a nice, glossy finish." AUSTIN SOUND
"[The Moon] was wonderful from start to finish...Keep an eye on these guys in 2009; I think this is a band whose following will grow." THE GHOST OF BLIND LEMON
"What a beautiful record...nine beautiful, southern-sounding songs in the style of Red House Painters, Midlake, or Calexico...Travis Hopper has a beautiful voice...[The Moon] has a warm and dreamy late night sound...slow and dark colored numbers to gently remove dreams." ROOTSTIME (BELGIUM)
"Elkhart blends wickedly warm melodies with heartbreaking lyrical details into lush, evocative guitar-infused vocal soundscapes perfect for front porch beer drinking or a late night drive down a dusty road. Might make you hold the one you’re with just a bit tighter, too." BEST OF TEXAS
"The album starts strong with "Change Your Mind"...the music is well played and recorded. The proficiency of [Michael Crowder's] playing complements the steady rhythms laid down by drummer and percussionist Jarad Brown. "Little Bear" brings to mind the steady beats of Tom Petty's album "Southern Accents". The percussion shines on this track as Brown's obvious laid-back nature provides layers of interesting textures and simple fills. At only 8 dollars, "The Moon" is a fairly well-priced album considering the quality of song writing it has to offer the listener." TCU DAILY SKIFF
"The guitar sound and overall production of The Moon is gorgeous, giving the songs an ethereal feel. Opener "Change Your Mind" shimmies beautifully into view after an incredibly laid back introduction. Elkhart are an incredibly talented bunch of musicians following their own path." AMERICANA UK
hey there buds. i'm friends w/ jarad and justin. wondering if you guys had a show in the near future i could hop on. i could open up no problem. just want to get out and start playing more shows. i play indie/acoustic songs. check them out, please get back to me. thanks.
I tried to post a comment on your regular page a while back and it wouldn't let me... I can't remember what I was going to say, but I'm sure it was very clever and witty.
