Toss Up

Description

"Useful Solitude" is the phrase Kevin Krauter uses to describe *Toss Up*, his upcoming debut album on Bayonet Records, both for the conditions of its creation and the through line of these nine shimmering indie-pop songs. In between tours, the Indiana-based musician spent long hours in his basement, with only vintage guitars and keyboards for company, testing out ideas, exploring new sonic avenues, savoring new sounds, and teaching himself to play a few instruments. *Toss Up* builds on the sonic universes of Krauter's early albums, conveying a similar mood with a wider range of instruments and influences. A shrewd songwriter with a style that is both understated and evocative, Krauter creates unique soundscapes that blend diverse influences: '60s flower pop, '70s easy listening, '80s new wave, '90s alternative radio, and 2000s indie rock. The secret tension of *Toss Up*, the engine that drives these songs: melody propelled by rhythm, melancholy pushed back by the exuberance of simple artistic creation.