Apr 18, 2010

The Brooklyn-based quartet The Art of Shooting went through several lineup changes in the last decade, but the poppy art-punks have finally settled on a steady lineup. Frontwoman Kelly Irene Corson’s rich vibrato (vocals, guitar) is now aided by Julie Rozansky (vocals, bass), Jim Archer (drums), and Gavin Dunaway (guitar).

They will self-release the stark debut full-length, Traveling Show, on April 27. The awash follow-up to Tyrant’s Black Eyes EP (Ace Fu Family Business) was produced by Paul Mahajan (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TV on the Radio, The National, Liars) in Brooklyn and at engineer Keith Souza’s (Battles, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah) Machines with Magnets Studios in Pawtucket, RI.

The record’s shadowy, lycanthropic cover art and shoegaze-rock songwriting apparently stem from Corson’s personal (and even humiliating) problems leading up to the recording sessions. As a result, she revisits all the nervy pressure points that made Siouxsie and the Banshees and its splinter group The Creatures so damn enjoyable.

The Galaxie 500-esque rocker “Japanese” is exclusively on offer today. Its dreamy shoegaze hooks and deep bass will help start your week off on the right foot. Check it out while perusing the band’s upcoming tour dates. Listen to more tracks at their Bandcamp page. “The Birdcage” and “It Goes (Home)” are recommended.