Video Age - Away From The Castle - CASSETTES

Video Age make breezy and timeless songs that are so ineffable, they can only be the result of a decades-long friendship and songwriting partnership. Across four albums, Ross Farbe and Ray Micarelli have gleefully worn their influences on their sleeve, writing inviting tunes that reference sounds ranging from disco to pop and indie rock. But on their latest LP, Away From the Castle, the New Orleans duo have strayed away from nostalgia, instead making organic songs that sound like themselves. It's their best collection of tracks to date and a reflection of Farbe and Micarelli's sturdy bond, pulling from the songbooks of classic singer-songwriters that inspired them in their early days.The album is a testament to the possibilities that come from getting out of your comfort zone, the freedom of writing vulnerably and unselfconsciously, and the joys of getting to work with your closest companions. After releasing their critically-acclaimed third album Pleasure Line in 2020, Farbe and Micarelli returned home from tour feeling creatively stuck. "When it came time to play the shows, it was so fun, but then we got home and I thought, 'What do I want to make?'" says Farbe. "I felt disconnected from what we were doing before." Micarelli, on the other hand, decided to write through the feeling of being unmoored. Durring this period, they took creative inspiration by collaborating with other people. They worked with Drugdealer on his album Hiding In Plain Sight, Micarelli gigged throughout New Orleans' jazz and blues scenes, and Farbe recorded local artists at his home studio, most recently producing Esther Rose's new album Safe to Run. This allowed them to give their own music a full refresh. "We realized we needed a breath of fresh air," says Micarelli. Joined by touring members Nick Corson and Duncan Troast, they rented a cabin in Eunice, Louisiana where they spent eight days