Arbor Labor Union releases new mini-album ‘Out To Pasture’ with a mix of jammy, folky indie rock songs

Arbor Labor Union, an indie band from Atlanta, defines themselves as “transcendental twang” in their Bandcamp bio. I stumbled upon their music thanks to Josh Terry’s No Expectations newsletter, and finding them has been a highlight of this Thanksgiving season. Today, I received a notification on Bandcamp about their latest release, titled Out To Pasture. The album is available online now and will be released on vinyl in January through Ryan Davis’ label, Sophomore Lounge. Trust me, you need to give this a listen.

It’s hard to categorize this record as an LP, EP, or something else. With seven tracks and spinning at 45 rpm according to the sleeve, I’ll refer to it as a “mini-album.” However, the label doesn’t really matter because what truly stands out is the incredible quality of the music. Arbor Labor Union has captured a laid-back, folksy, jam band vibe that reminds me of a Southern version of Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks or a whimsical counterpart to psych-folk groups like Heron Oblivion. Still, their influences seem to reach even further back in time.

The guitar-driven jams on this album unmistakably echo the late ’60s era. While the band’s official description mentions CSNY, tracks like the extraordinary title song exude hints of Cream, Fairport Convention, and the Grateful Dead. Moreover, as the music progresses into the ’70s, one might detect a bit of Yes’ “Roundabout” influence on “Repunzel.” In short, don’t waste any more time and hit play on this record immediately.

Out To Pasture is currently available digitally as a Bandcamp exclusive, with a physical release date set for January 1st through Sophomore Lounge. Don’t miss out on the chance to purchase this outstanding album.

Share on FacebookShare on RedditShare on EmailShare on BlueskyChris DeVille@chrisdevilleRead More:Arbor Labor UnionGET THE STEREOGUM DIGESTThe week’s most important music stories and least important music memes.EmailSign up