Angelo de Augustine has made a name for himself through his unparalleled ability to create overwhelming emotion out of sparseness. The L.A.-based musician appeared on my radar with his 2017 sophomore effort Swim Inside the Moon, and then followed that with 2019’s Tomb that was released on Sufjan Steven’s Asthmatic Kitty label.
Today, he returns with his first new track since Tomb with the stunning “Santa Barbara,” which features Sufjan on backup vocals and guitar. “Santa Barbara” is built around a simple guitar arpeggio that slowly spins itself into something grander than he’s previously explored. Whereas critics have commonly compared Angelo’s music to Elliott Smith and Nick Drake, this song suggests a larger sound more akin to Grizzly Bear and the massive orchestration of Sufjan’s Illinoise. It’s a stunner, and I’m eagerly anticipating whatever comes next, whether it’s a full-length in 2020 or more one-off singles.
Check out the video for “Santa Barbara” below, featuring footage Angelo filmed on a beach with an antique Super 8, and find his Spotify here.
