Brooklyn Singer-Songwriter Argyle Johansen Showcases Psychedelic Folk

Like a cross between Vandaveer, the Decemberists and Sufjan Stevens, Brooklyn songwriter Argyle Johansen (a.k.a. John F. Wentz) hammers his way into your ears with the multi-layered textures from Inner Demo(n)s, his latest EP. Johansen argues that “a free man on earth ought to make his life worthwhile, and [my] music is an attempt at a means to that end.” Self-aggrandizing pretensions aside, the music’s actually quite solid. “You Try”, a live version of which you can hear in its entirety below, showcases his psychedelic folk sound in full force, a frenetic wheels-on-train-tracks percussive propulsion system atop which guitars, accordion and echoing vocals are layered. Fans of Vampire Weekend’s Contra will know the sound pretty well, and are likely to find plenty to enjoy here. Inner Demo(n)s has been available since 6 September, and though there hasn’t yet been a groundswell of mainstream acceptance, this is music which fits into the groove alongside the best of 2011’s folk-pop newcomers. You just haven’t heard it yet.

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