Radar Bros. craft a specific kind of sonic landscape that feels inextricably tied to the geography of Southern California, specifically the hazy, sun-bleached stillness of the canyons. Their music moves at a deliberate, unhurried pace, often settling into hypnotic rhythms that feel like a slow-motion exhale. It is rock music stripped of its urgency but none of its depth, replacing aggression with a thick, atmospheric warmth that envelops the listener.
What truly sets them apart is the production pedigree of frontman Jim Putnam. Utilizing his Phase 4 Intergalactic Recording Facility and a deep knowledge of vintage audio gear, he creates a texture that is rich with analog tape saturation and organic resonance. The guitars don't just play; they shimmer and decay into the mix, while Putnam's breathy, understated vocals provide a gentle guide through the instrumental fog.
For those new to their catalog, 'And the Surrounding Mountains' is the definitive entry point. It perfectly captures their transition from lo-fi beginnings into a more expansive, cinematic sound. It is an album that rewards patience, revealing intricate layers of piano and harmony that only become apparent after the third or fourth spin.
Radar Bros. (also known as Radar Brothers) are an American indie rock band from Los Angeles formed in 1993 by Jim Putnam (vocals, guitar, keyboard), Senon Williams (bass), and Steve Goodfriend (drums). They released their self-titled EP in 1995 on Fingerpaint Records. In 1996, they signed to Restless Records releasing Radar Bros. in early 1997. Jim Putnam is the son of Bill Putnam, founder of Universal Audio. He founded both Universal Recorders and United Western Recorders. Jim Putnam was a former guitarist for Medicine and Maids of Gravity before starting the Radar Bros. Putnam has recorded most of the Radar Bros. albums and the Mt. Wilson Repeater release in his studio, the Phase 4 Intergalactic Recording Facility. Radar Bros. sixth album, The Illustrated Garden, was released in March 2010 on Merge Records (U.S.), and the Chemikal Underground label (U.K./EU). He was the first to include new members Be Hussey and Stevie Treichel, who joined in 2008 to tour with the Auditorium album release in the U.S. and Europe. Original member Senon Williams left the band to play bass in Dengue Fever. An LP version of The Illustrated Garden was released September 2010 on the Squid vs. Whale label. Radar Bros. have headlined many tours in the United States, Canada, and Europe as well as supporting the bands Modest Mouse and Teenage Fanclub on their 2010 U.S. tours. They supported the Breeders on their 2002 European tour and played with bands including Low, Cat Power, The Decemberists, Bardo Pond, The Black Heart Procession, and My Morning Jacket. Radar Bros. recorded with John Peel for his "Peel sessions" (December 10, 1996) and also played at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival at UK 2000 and UK 2006. The music video for "Brother Rabbit" from the album Auditorium was shot in Oklahoma in Healdton, Noble, and Norman in June 2008 and directed by The General Assembly. Putnam's side project Mt. Wilson Repeater released their debut self-titled album in the U.S. in April 2008 on the Eastern Fiction label and in the U.K. in October 2008 on the Chemikal Underground record label. The latest album, Eight, was released in the U.S. on January 29, 2013, on Merge Records. The line-up expanded to include Ethan Walter (keyboards, piano), Brian Cleary (piano, keyboards), and Dan Iead (guitar, pedal steel), who have all toured with the band since 2010. Most recently, guitarist Jim Bowers joined the band as a touring member.
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Shares slowcore, indie rock, shoegaze (subgenres); analog warmth, lo fi, layered dense (production style)
Shares slowcore, indie rock, shoegaze (subgenres); analog warmth, lo fi, layered dense (production style)
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Shares wistful, contemplative, melancholic (moods); analog warmth, lo fi, layered dense (production style)
Shares slowcore, indie rock, shoegaze (subgenres); analog warmth, lo fi, layered dense (production style)
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