Tendencies
Sad Tree, 2024
8/10
A rising outfit in the area of queer indie-folk sounds, the Austin, Texas outfit Middle Sattre host 8 musicians for this raw and very personal account of coming-of-age as a queer person.
“I Once Felt Safe” starts the listen with soft vocals and much atmosphere alongside the soft plucking and distinct beauty, and “Hate Yourself To The Core” follows with a soothing folk appeal, where a melodic haze surrounds the intimate singing.
Further into the listen, “Imperfect Hands” offers rich textures of warmth that use Jordan Walsh’s skilled drumming superbly, while “Out” spotlights Hannah Marks’ precisely plucked bass amid the hushed climate.
Arriving near the end, the brighter tone of “Corrupted” comes with a slight buzzing and well timed backing vocals, and “Getting There” exits with poetic singing, some slight synth and layered strings for a stylish chamber presence.
There’s a lot of instruments in attendance here, including harp, accordion, trumpet and flute, to name a few, as well as a bit of a contrast between devastating versus beautiful song craft, and it makes for an atypical folk experience.