Hailing from the bohemian college town of Athens, Georgia, Futurebirds play laid-back country-rock with an atmospheric, psychedelic twist. The group began turning heads with the release of a self-titled EP, whose backwoods harmonies and pedal steel riffs helped earn a contract with Autumn Tone Records. With the label's help, Futurebirds booked time at Chase Park Transduction — one of Athens' most renowned studios, with a client list that includes R.E.M., Drive-By Truckers, and Jason Isbell — and recorded Hampton's Lullaby. The debut album was released in August 2010, and the group issued a follow-up EP, Via Flamina, while touring in support of both releases.

Lo and behold, Strawberry, the fourth release from Cincinnati's best kept secret, Wussy ("There's no humble way to sell one of the best bands in the world, so I won't lowball it..." – Village Voice, (March '10) .

The band, led by former Ass Pony's frontman Chuck Cleaver and his omnipotent soulful female counterpart Lisa Walker, have existed as Wussy since a solo performance by Chuck pulled them together info a duo in 2001. Rounded out by resident Mark Messerly as bassist/utility man, and newcomer Joe Klug behind the southpaw kit, this is surely the tightest and most prominent version of Wussy to date. Continuing at the recording helm is the great John Curley (Afghan Whigs), who has now become a fixed entity in the Wussy recording stable.

Strawberry marks the co-production debut for drummer Joe Klug, adding yet another round in the arsenal that is Wussy. The result is a perfect balance between heavy distortion and meticulously scattered soul, all layered into Wussy's patented mid-west take on rock n' roll, as if the walls of Ultra Suede Recording Studio had flooded during their sessions with the decades of its legendary recording history. Cuts like the pounding "Pulverized" (#2), the sultry "Chicken" (#4), or the melancholic "Waiting Room" (#3) set the tone of the now-defunct relationship between the band leaders, showing that despite the complexities of growing old and changing times, you still have to pickup and move on.

With critical acclaim on their previous releases, Left for Dead (★★★★ – Rolling Stone), Wussy (★★★★ – Rolling Stone) and Funeral Dress ("8 out of 10" – Spin), Strawberry is already receiving positive accolades ahead of it's national release, and is sounding like the best Wussy record to date. Wussy shouldn't remain a secret for much longer...

Photos (also available by request):
www.wussy.org/?page_id=534

Web Presence
wussy.org
twitter.com/#!/wussymusic
facebook.com/wussymusic
wussy.bandcamp.com