(written by Islander)

Obviously, we host lots of premieres — almost every weekday. Our rule is not to agree unless we’ve first listened to what’s being offered and then come away pleased. There are exceptions, when we’re familiar with the band’s music or have a high degree of trust in whomever’s pitching the premiere. In today’s premiere a different and even more rare kind of exception became insistent: I thought the band’s name could have been a description of myself, and for almost that reason alone, I said YES, without hearing the song.

You can see the band’s name up there: Olde Outlier. I’d never heard their music before, for the good reason that they haven’t released any records yet. The forthcoming album that includes the song we’re premiering — From Shallow Lives to Shallow Graves — is their first one. When I read the pitch, I learned that their lineup makes them appear to be a continuation of an Australia band named Innsmouth, who split up after the 2014 release of their sole album, Consumed by Elder Sign. But since I never heard that album, the history didn’t mean much.

I usually find myself in accord with the choices made by Olde Outlier’s label and the label’s PR agent, so that provided a degree of confidence. And I was enthralled by the album’s cover art. But really, more than anything else, it came down to the band’s name. Maybe a flimsy reed to lean on in deciding to host this premiere, but it turned out to be no reed, but a stout trunk. Continue reading »