Voxtrot, Voxtrot

If I read one more review that refers to fill-in-the-blank band as the "darling" of the scene, I might lose my lunch. The patronizing, cutesy term is so lazy and overused it's turning into the Britney Spears of music journalism jargon. (Scoff if you will, because all this is coming from someone who has sourced the word far too many times herself.)


And yet, when searching for descriptors to properly portray Austin, Texas band Voxtrot, I come up short. To call this quixotic quintet the reigning darling of feather-light indie pop seems trite, but in some sense, it's the only fitting label. A perfect package of melancholic yet blissful vocals, wispy, '60s-sounding refrains and Belle & Sebastian-style sappiness (a trait I harbor no objections to), Voxtrot is nothing if not precious. And don't forget "darling."

The proof's in the pudding. Not only did Voxtrot recently get a nod for New Artist of the Year by the PLUG 2007 Independent Music Awards (Artic Monkeys took the title home); the group rocked U.S. and UK audiences without even having to release a full-length album. Save three fantastic EPs - Your Biggest Fan; Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives; and Raised By Wolves - Voxtrot has yet to make its official debut.

Behold the power of Internet promotion! Thanks to Myspace, word-of-mouth and lots of dedicated fans, Voxtrot is the biggest little sensation since - eh, why not? - sliced bread. I even have a friend who let the boys crash at her place during their climb up. On the road to notoriety, these guys haven't met a single enemy, only friends.

Voxtrot will likely gain an even greater following as it returns from Europe for a full-on U.S. tour, which starts at SXSW in Austin March 12. The band's limited edition UK 7-inch (only 1,000 copies) out February 26 is also sure to stir up more positive press.

If you are itching for a greater wealth of material - mayhaps in the form of an LP, you say? - Voxtrot's freshman effort is set for arrival sometime this spring via Playlouder, the label with which Voxtrot has already signed a contract. May 22 is the fateful day touted by the blogs, so tenatively mark your calendars.

From Your Biggest Fan:
Trouble
From Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives:
Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives
From Raised By Wolves:
The Start Of Something

(Buy all @ Voxtrot.net)
+ Myspace

And for fun, check out frontman Ramesh Srivastava's blog.

Keep bootscootin,
Amy