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Air House is happy to add the beautiful nostalgic textures of Sighs to our catalog.  Both of their previously self released albums, Fabric and Happens are now available through Air House Records.  

Debut,  Happens,  was first self released January 24, 2013,  at a pay-what-you-want quota featuring an immense plate of electro-acoustic abstractions. One could call it a “bedroom record”, but sighs explores nature and other miscellaneous sounds more than what the average record of this aesthetic does. Less than six months later on June 21, sighs released their sophomore release Fabric, honing in on their sound even more with less filler tracks and having more complex structures of tracks yet still having the nooks and crannies that made Happens so special.

​Draped in nostalgic textures, Sighs incorporates many elements of the mystique of field recordings, lo-fi bedroom recordings, and a great sense of melody. Eight minute standouts like “Mirrored Mosaics” on Sighs’ debut Happens touches on every one of those elements expanding into this dreamy interpretations of a halcyon neighborhood in July. Border-lining on this electro-acoustic improvisation, sighs sways in and out of layers and layers of organic cloudiness. “Bicycle Sounds” off sophomore release Fabric stacks these blurred memories of plucking acoustic guitars and ethereal vocals that Snook incorporates into the duo’s aesthetic.

Paper Airplanes’ tale is of two records. The freshman Boyhood was met with wide critical acclaim and hinted at more wonderful things to come. When they did come with Scandal, Scandal, Scandal Down in the Wheat Field, Paper Airplanes’ tenure was over, and the record never saw the light of day. That is, until now.

Boyhood was largely comprised of home recordings created by Paper Airplanes’ core members, teenage songwriter Marcus Stoesz, bass player Anthony Piazza, and drummer Nathan Wilder. It was first released in 2005 in Wichita, but was soon picked up by veteran indie rock label 54 40 or Fight!. The single “The Fences” was a perfect college radio anthem, and it garnered significant airplay across the country. The album received enthusiastic write-ups from blogs and magazines including Pitchfork, Coke Machine Glow, Magnet, Spin, and Tiny Mix Tapes.

The band grew into a six piece touring band with a rotating cast and toured extensively for Boyhood. They even played a showcase for Capitol Records, and it was rumored that the choice lied between Paper Airplanes and the Decemberists. Though the majors passed, the band continued to work, tour, and record extensively for three more years.

While Boyhood was the opening cry of an ambitious group of musicians, Scandal is the portrait of a band at their technical and creative best. From start to finish, the lyrics provide a narrative of murder and divine justice while weaving their way through the confident arrangements. Within the album’s epic scope lie some great songs, including “Belovedaire”, “Killer Goes to College”, and “Assembly”.   After the fifty minute ride it comes to an unsettling finish when our narrator, perhaps delusional, speaks, “you and I seem to do things right, and now everything’s alright.” It’s a fitting closing statement on a record that seems to do a lot of things right.

Scandal saw a limited release of three hundred hand-made copies in 2009, which the band exclusively sold at shows. The deal with 54 40 or Fight! fell through and the band put the official release on hold. Soon after Wilder and Piazza moved to Kansas City and Stoesz moved to San Francisco, and in the next four years the memory of Scandal faded away.

As part of an effort to showcase great Wichita area bands and musicians, Air House Records proudly presents Paper Airplanes’ Scandal, Scandal, Scandal Down in the Wheat Field, set for a release on November 19th, 2013.