“Loons” finds Indianapolis-based trio Karate, Guns & Tanning contemplating the majesty of the Great Northern Diver in mythical terms. The song itself is an epic of pulsing rhythms and an emotional urgency that carries you along with its swirling tones teeming with a rich sonic detail and bird sounds. It would be tempting to pigeonhole the music as shoegaze but the attention to production and the robust electronic side of the songwriting makes it something more. The low end alone that runs through the song sets it apart from something more ethereal and Valerie Green’s (formerly of Denver art pop greats Good Housekeeping) melodious and moody vocals bring to the song a grounded quality that syncs well with the delicate guitar lines. It’s a song whose layers of sound are easy to get caught up in until the end for a sonic journey celebrating yes a particular type of bird but of the freedom and dignity it represents that it wouldn’t hurt to emulate as well. Listen to “Loons” on Spotify and follow Karate, Guns & Tanning at the links below. The group’s new album Krisis Genre, perhaps a nod to feeling no need to fit into a narrow style, released on May 23, 2025 on digital platforms and it is also available on 12” vinyl.
Karate, Guns & Tanning on Instagram
Karate, Guns & Tanning on Facebook
Karate, Guns & Tanning on YouTube
Queen City Sounds and Art 
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