Songs of the Saxophones – The Saxophones

Retro-pop duo the Saxophones, composed of Oakland, California husband and wife Alexi Erenkov (guitar, vocals, woodwinds) and Alison Alderdice (percussion, vocals), had been playing music together since the mid-2000s but did not release anything until 2016. Their debut EP, If You’re on the Water, which they self-released digitally and on lathe-cut vinyl, was recorded by Radiation City’s Cameron Spies at Gold Brick Studios in Portland, Oregon and featured their friend Richard Laws on bass, vibes, and synth. Their mellow, laid-back sound, which they described as “minimalist dream pop,” combined elements of ’50s exotica, outsider pop, smooth jazz, and West Coast folk. The strong internet buzz surrounding the EP led to a deal with Full Time Hobby, who re-released the EP in 2017 and put out the duo’s first single, “Aloha,” early the following year; it was backed with a cover of the David Lynch/Angelo Badalamenti classic “Just You,” from Twin Peaks. Their debut full-length, Songs of the Saxophones, recorded once again with Spies, followed in June 2018. ~ John D. Buchanan

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