Tammar I Live Here Now

With the release of "I Live Here Now", Bloomington, Indiana's TAMMAR gets the Peel Session that, in another place and time, would have surely been due. Captured over three live performances at Bloomington's Russian Recording in July/August of 2009 and mixed by ZERO BOYS' Paul Mahern at Echo Park Studios, this collection of post-punk anthemvariations is a testament to why TAMMAR is one of themidwest'smost excitingbands, be it in the live setting or when laid to tape. Like a less austere, more exuberant SECTION 25, the Factory Records sound is maybe the lowest hanging, most easily plucked fruit on the TAMMAR tree. But for the eager ear, there are a variety of flavors at play: Dave Walter's triumphant vocal explorations serve as a welcome renovation of Yoko Ono's most melodic moments or JAMES' early 90s work with Brian Eno, always finding that golden hook through his phrasing and rephrasing. The subtle layers of Sarah Wyatt Swanson's drums and Josephine McRobbie's percussion as they build and build through each song are at once tribal and deft. Evan Whikehart's triumphant guitar progressions take The Edge to the art spaces and basements where that true"edge" really exists. And the elastic low-end of Ben Swanson's analog keyboard serves as the strange, dark foundation for all these songs.