Once in a while, we like to take some time to introduce you to bands -- both local otherwise -- that we think you'd enjoy. Le Diamont Brut aims to showcase those MySpace gems we hope to see shine. Recommend your local suggestions by emailing music@austinist.com.

THOR HARRIS

What’s the Deal: It’s hard to resist reviewing an artist named Thor, as in super-brutal, Norse god with a head full of long locks and a giant mighty hammer in his fist. This name paired with a musical project immediately calls to mind a full frontal assault of thrashing metal guitars and a barrage of double bass drum pounding. Pagan symbols adorn a stage of fire, and the high-pitched vocalist spews forth yarns about the son of Oden... Nothing could be further from the truth. Thor isn’t even his real name. Feel cheated? Apparently, it’s a nickname given to Harris while slinging avocado at Thundercloud Subs. His music is actually ambient instrumental experimentalism. Between the sounds of metal bending, symbol splashes and keyboard pulses, Harris has also found the time to lend his talents on drums and percussion to acts like Shearwater and Bill Callahan.

Local indie record company I Eat Records has recently re-released Fields of Innards, within which lies some intriguing and dazzling sounds. "Track 8" is filled with hand drums popping as the sounds of chimes, strummed strings and noise swells and pulls back. It’s perfect music to lose yourself in.

Something Interesting: Thor has other talents outside of his music, like carpentry and painting. He's been building onto a house using mostly recycled materials. You can tell from the pictures on his website that it’s come a very long way. His paintings are also well worth a look on his site.

Other Tracks Worth Checking Out: "Track 12"

Thor Harris Official

Image of Comrade courtesy of their MySpace
Image of Thor Harris by John Anderson

COMRADE

What’s the Deal: There isn’t much info floating around out there in cyberland about this Dallas-based, soft and quirky indie rock quitet. They’re relatively new to the game, only having released a debut 7-song called There’s Many A Slip Twixt the Cup & the Lip. But, with only a handful of songs in their arsenal, the group shows off a startling amount of husky and organic indie folk arrangements that bend and sway with just enough pop catchiness to keep them in mind but off the charts. The follow-up to There’s Many A Slip and the group’s first full-length, Arm & Leg, is expected out in early 2008.

“You Don’t know,” which is to be released on the upcoming album, begins with a tender, breathy vocal and a lightly plucked acoustic. It steadily begins to rise in the air like a balloon released during a carnival with the sounds of a melodica and light strings providing the soundtrack as it soars. Then, “Make/Break” switches gears with a sad and sweet piano ballad that features vocals unlike their other songs. Instead of an Iron & Wine-inspired softly sung folkie, the singing rises to the heights of Thom Yorke. The song builds from a lone voice and piano to a booming sound as the drums and guitar come in.

Something Interesting: The band Ts the group is peddling are all but blank except for a stain near the collar signifying the ‘slip’ talked about in the title of their debut recording. How cute and clever. Although, you’d have to be a really big fan of the group to walk around with a stain that looks like you can’t hold down your grape juice on your shirt.

Other Tracks Worth Checking Out: “No Need” and “Sociao”

Comrade MySpace