Changing seasons have seen changing sounds in Let's Drive to Alaska, but Christopher Garcia's electronic post-rock outlet remains as verdant as it did in 2005, when it was just a laptop project. LDTA has warped and whittled down, with only the ardent Patrick Haag (ex-Mississippi Men) on drums, percussion, and noise while Garcia multi-tasks synths, loops, and effects—they were a quartet at one time. But through the decade of production struggles and lineup changes, quiet releases and whispered tours, comes an official debut album that breathes new purpose in songs from A Bell and A Mirror (Muerte Pop) and "Indigo Children," and some new ones, to boot. The polyrhythmic blossom "Sejatski (Brother)" is the first released single from LDTA's 13-song LP In the Fifth House, set to release March 8, 2016. A syncopated beat and motif picks up wind, climbs and falls to the hum of pop-inflected waves—it's a reaffirmation of the duo's efforts, a taste of what's to come, and a resounding sign of life in the quietude of Whittier.

Join Let's Drive to Alaska for a release party on March 10th at Au Lac in Los Angeles with The Grigori Dance Company, as well as The Littlest Vikingand The New Octaves. - Ryan Mo, photo credit: Jacob Pulido

If music be the food of love, then consider The Golden Tongues polyamorous. That's the name of a new project by Chris Garcia, one half of Whittier's electronic post-rock duo Let's Drive to Alaska. 

In the first track to Golden Tongues' upcoming b/w, "Always On My Mind," Garcia sings in heart-on-sleeve cadence with an airy inflection that calms interjections of cardamom synths and guitar jangle. It's a measured effort, not to mention a solo effort since last year. And while the result might not capture the naiveté of Wild Nothing or Real Estate, it does rekindle the fluttery feeling of a new crush. As with his debut EP "Extractions," Garcia is still finding his love, but takes greater pleasure exploring musical flings than brooding in alexithymic solitude.

Hang out tonight at Lot 1 Café as The Golden Tongues play a Counter Culture-curated show with Ablebody and Foliage — it's free and starts at 8 pm. - Ryan Mo

OC post-rock and trip-hop fans rejoice: you can catch James LaValle's solo project The Album Leaf performing the day before Culture Collide at The Wayfarer (fka Detroit Bar, Club Mesa). Supporting LaValle are the cinematically organic North OC duo Let's Drive to Alaska, and the cathartic threnodies from Los Angeles trip-hop solo artist Omniflux.

There will be more than a few surprises tomorrow night: Omniflux is gearing up a lightshow to complement her set, Let's Drive to Alaska will be joined by dance ensemble The Grigori, and The Album Leaf will probably most likely debut some new songs of his forthcoming album, as will Let's Drive to Alaska from their new album The Fifth House. Ticket information available from The Wayfarer. - Ryan Mo

Whittier, CA-based Let's Drive to Alaska is the ambient/experimental project of Christopher García, whose developed a soothing soundscape of gleaming, almost anthemic instrumentals that oscillate between delicate synth textures and spacey, melodic loops. The arrangements are minimal and hypnotic, each piece perpetuating a flutter of pulsing artificiality that digs deep into classic kosmische territory. Christopher will be playing with a full band tomorrow night at Huntington Beach's Shanghai'd Room.