Biography
The Specific Heats began in 2004 as the solo project of Mat Patalano and was then fully actualized into a full band. Inspired by Mat’s love for 1960s surf, pop, garage & psych pop as well as 90s/2000s indie pop, their sound developed from a blend of energetic yet melancholy indie pop into the “missing link” between timid and meticulous indie pop & and wild, untamed garage rock that no one had ever asked for.
They released the self-produced “The Specific Heats Aboard A Spaceship of the Imagination” back in 2006 on Total Gaylord Records (Shumai, The Lil’ Hospital, The Snow Fairies, & makers of the highly acclaimed “Cwistmas Twee” Compilation) and re-located to Brooklyn. After some lineup changes, they recorded their latest 7” EP, “Back Through Thyme”, released only last spring (2009) due to software issues, computer & external hard drive theft, and a series of other unfortunate mis-haps.
The band, donning their dashing paisley capes, however, strives onward – embodying the spirit of positivity and perseverance in the face of adversity that appears as a theme in much of their work. Last summer they practically burned the place down (anyone who was there will undoubtedly know what we mean) when they performed at the Indie Tracks festival and will be returning this year with, at long last, their soon-to-be released second album “Cursed!”.
What some people have said about The Specific Heats:
“Picture if you will a dancing virtuoso loon of a guitarist leading proceedings with a lovely Mosrite cranked up via a Fuzzrite stompbox, a Fender reverb unit …furious backing on echoed, descending bass-lines, clattering garage-punk drums and swirling, baroque/prog-infused organ respectively, birthing a veritable riot of explosive, expansive psychedelic surf punk pop bliss.”
– Stereo Sanctity Blog
“groovy ‘60s-focused sound that leans heavily on Zombies-esque baroque pop, some Stereolab/Monade style retro-futurist grooves, a bit of a surf twang, with a touch of Electric Prunes-ish studio-bound garage-psyche mayhem creeping around the edges.” – Stereo Sanctity Blog
“The Specific Heats may be yet another gem unearthed from Brooklyn's prolific underground scene … Mixing surf guitars, garage punk, lo-fi pop sensibilities and occasional noise-infused melodies, their three-girl, one-boy DIY fare is a breathtaking joy to behold.”
- Dom Gourlay, Drowned In Sound.com
"I haven't heard psych pop mixed with indiepop this good since the Tables! "
- Chris McFarlane, Indie Pages
"…energetic surf-tinged, feedback laced pop… Emerging from the same backyard as kindred spirits Crystal Stilts, Cause Co-Motion and Vivian Girls, The Specific Heats might just be the most exciting combo of the lot"
- Dom Gourlay, Drowned in Sound
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