You Need ‘Feel It Break,’ The New Album From Austra YOU NEED IT

Toronto-based gloom-pop outfit Austra is currently getting a whole lot of attention. Their debut full-length album Feel It Break is gonna drop any day now, and anyone standing by salivating is doing so in good company. I cannot wait.

The group is formed by vocalist Katie Stelmanis, percussionist Maya Postepski and bassist Dorian Wolf –  the first two band members you may or may not recall from Toronto-based queer riot grrrl band, Galaxy.

Austra don’t feel the need to be labeled, okay? Their music won’t slide neatly into any one genre and so we’ve been making up new ones, most commonly ‘operatic dance’ and ‘gloom-pop’. Both fit perfectly. Stelmanis’ gothic vocal style is spellbinding and melodramatic, but never overbearing – she’s perfectly balanced with Wolf and Postepski’s chunky synthy dancey beats.

Feel It Break is one of the most interesting and addictive records I’ve heard this year, and right now the champs at NPR are streaming it in its entirety. Get onto it now before I wear out their music player. Seriously.

STREAM ‘FEEL IT BREAK’ HERE

Feel It Break will be released on May 17. Pre-order your copy here.

Check out Austra’s strange new music video for the track “Lose It” below.

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Crystal

Founding member. Former writer. Still loves Autostraddle with her whole heart.

Crystal has written 320 articles for us.

27 Comments

  1. So unique. I dig this band
    Thanks for the always great recommendation(s), Crystal

    and love me some NPR!!

  4. i cannot recommend this band more. crystal, you should post their “beat and the pulse” video! it is excellent. EXCELLENT

  5. Hm, I saw them live in Manchester [UK] the other week.
    Totally beautiful. I’ve had their YouTube tracks on repeat ever since.

    Stunning, and soaring vocals.
    Still trying to figure out all the lyrics…

  7. yo, when y’all post amazon links, are they affiliate links? i’m more likely to buy off amazon if it’ll kick you guys a couple of bucks.

  9. I saw them live in Camden(London, UK) and they were crazy good, great atmosphere. I’d definitely recommend that people buy their music and where possible go see them live.

  11. super crazy video though. not too sure about that, but great song. will be getting this when it comes out for sure.

  13. Eeeee I formspring-ed you about them today, Crystal! Were we on the same wavelength, or did you immediately fall in love upon following my tip and post here right away? Either way, yay! I’m really glad to have a place to talk about Austra where everyone isn’t already sick of me talking about Austra. Preordered the album, hoping I can make it to the San Diego show in July.

    • Also, I have been awake for 28 hours straight (working on my thesis project) with no prospect of sleep until tonight, and I kind of don’t mind because I have Katie Stelmanis’s vocals to keep me company.

  16. This album is the best thing I’ve heard in like, an aeon. For real. Also, that video made me strangely happy. Maybe because it seemed vaguely lesbionic, involved military chic, and made my nosebleeds feel understood…? Either way, gonna be escaping into this dark and shiny headphones-world for a long time to come. Thanks for the recommendation!

  17. Yah so I got ridiculously excited over the slap-hand game that the two ladies were playing before they started to wrestle a bit. LOVE that hand game.

    <— kid @ heart.

    Great music! Will definitely pre-order.

  21. AMAZING. I feel like I did when I first heard Florence. Thank you so much for posting.

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