Stream Angelo De Augustine Spirals Of Silence (Stereogum Premiere)
Every song we’ve shared so far from 22-year-old L.A. singer-songwriter Angelo De Augustine’s debut album Spirals Of Silence — “How Past Begins,” “Old Hope,” and “You Open To The Idea” — has been a hushed, fragile snapshot of a young man and his guitar with barely anything else in the frame. That’s how the whole album is, all quietly vibrantly and unspeakably beautiful. The Elliot Smith comparisons are inevitable, but the songs are irresistible. De Augustine shared some background on how his intimate sketches cohered into a full-length debut:
Recording Spirals Of Silence was mostly accidental. At the time, I was focusing singularly on songwriting. I bought a reel to reel tape recorder a few years back, but I hadn’t been able to use it very well. I figured that the best way to learn was through trial and error, so I started documenting the songs on tape and focusing mostly on the performance. I would set up one microphone and play the songs all the way through. All of the songs are single takes in hopes that they maintain a special human quality. When I finished the song “The Beginning And The End,” I sent it to some people I trust. They responded positively to the recording and encouraged me to continue. Twenty or so songs later, I sensed a connection between 11 of the songs and decided I wanted to release them as an album.
Stream the album in full below.
De Augustine is in the midst of a West Coast tour. Get tickets here here, and check out the dates:
11/11 Portland, OR @ House Performance supporting Denison Witmer
11/12 Bend, OR House Performance supporting Denison Witmer
11/13 Redding, CA House Performance supporting Denison Witmer
11/14 Forestville, CA @ House Performance supporting Denison Witmer
11/15 Berkeley, CA @ House Performance supporting Denison Witmer
11/17 Woodland Hills, CA @ House Performance supporting Denison Witmer
11/18 San Diego, CA @ House Performance supporting Denison Witmer
11/19 San Diego, CA @ House Performance supporting Denison Witmer
11/20 San Diego, CA @ Belly Up Tavern w/ Noah Gundersen
11/21 Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre w/ Noah Gundersen
11/22 San Francisco – CA @ The Chapel w/ Noah Gundersen
Spirals Of Silence is out 11/18. Pre-order it here.