Overcoats - “Fire & Fury”

SXSW 2020 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 6

Pairs Well With…Ibeyi, Sylvan Esso, Joseph

Overcoats have released four singles from their upcoming sophomore record The Fight and it’s clear the NYC duo have embraced a full pop/rock sound to accompany the minimal electronic echos of their debut. New-wave bounce powers “The Fool” while “Fire & Fury” provides twists of grand piano pop in its chorus - none of the preview track from The Fight take on ambience and instead are awash in warm melodies and harmonies. While so much is nicely evolved on The Fight, Overcoats’ razor-tight harmonies smartly remain as a key anchor of their sound. (Kevin McStravick)

2017 Review: Harmonic folk-tronica duo Overcoats are heading back to Austin in 2017 and it will likely be in support of an upcoming full-length judging from studio updates in the middle of a heavy touring year behind their debut EP.  Overcoats did overlay their minimal, rich melodies on a gorgeous cover of Hozier’s “Cherry Wine” recently, worth seeing out alongside their gentle original work.

2016 Review: Minimal electronic pop duo Overcoats meld ghostly folk harmonies with trip hop beats, adding maybe a guitar or keyboard line, but nothing else.  By keeping their music so stark, Overcoats’ hushed percussion becomes inventive, thoughtful even.  The lone instrumental melodies turn into thick and ringing held notes.  That’s all secondary though to the band’s beautiful vocal harmonies.  Their voices are similar in inflection (melancholy - between a whisper and normal) and engagement and both would be suitable fronting this sound solo, though the sum is just gorgeous.  Their vocal melodies are in step, complex yet emotionally open.