The last time we heard from Gospel Music (Owen Holmes, bassist of Black Kids)on 2010's duettes EP, Owen Holmes was collaborating with members of The Magnetic Fields, Camera Obscura and other likeminded artists, creating a sound critics compared to Jonathan Richman, Silver Jews and The Vaselines. On How to Get to Heaven From Jacksonville, FL, he further develops his homespun lo-fi, layering toy piano, organ and banjo over jangly guitars, bouncy basslines and minimalist drums. His playful, conversational baritone sits squarely between that of David Berman and Lou Reed, while lots of syrupy female vocals, this time from his Jacksonville friend Madeline Long, provide the perfect foil. Holmes made the record at home in Jacksonville and recruited Charles Newman (Stephin Merritt's engineer) for mixing. How to Get to Heaven From Jacksonville, FL is set to be released on Oct. 25. That's also when Holmes takes the Gospel on the road, with Long and a similarly good-looking backing band in tow. God bless Gospel Music.
