Arbor Labor Union Releases Folky Indie Rock Mini-Album ‘Out To Pasture’

Arbor Labor Union, an indie band from Atlanta, describes themselves as “transcendental twang” on their Bandcamp page. I first discovered them through Josh Terry’s No Expectations newsletter, and I am grateful for this find during the Thanksgiving season. Their latest release, Out To Pasture, appeared in my Bandcamp notifications today, available digitally now and set for a vinyl release in January through Ryan Davis’ label, Sophomore Lounge. Trust me, you don’t want to miss out on this music.

It’s hard to categorize this release as an LP, EP, or anything else. With seven songs and a 45 rpm speed mentioned on the sleeve, I’ll go with “mini-album.” However, what truly matters is the exceptional quality of the music. Arbor Labor Union has captured a carefree, folky, and jammy vibe that reminds me of a Southern response to Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks or a whimsical companion to psych-folk bands like Heron Oblivion. Yet, the influences extend further back in time.

The guitar-driven jams on Out To Pasture evoke the late ’60s era strongly. While their bio mentions CSNY as an influence, tracks like the mesmerizing title song bring to mind echoes of Cream, Fairport Convention, and the Grateful Dead. Moving into the ’70s, there might even be a hint of Yes’s “Roundabout” on “Repunzel.” The bottom line is, don’t waste any more time reading – scroll down, hit play, and immerse yourself in this music immediately.

Out To Pasture is currently available digitally exclusively on Bandcamp, with a physical release date set for January 2nd through Sophomore Lounge. Don’t miss the chance to purchase this outstanding mini-album.