From adolescence, mike wrote music, produced records, and toured with beloved “punk” and “indie” bands. Modern, melodic, heavy music. But must sounds rely on layers of distortion to make an impact? Can stompboxes and studio gimmicks disappear, allowing artist and audience to truly connect?

Reborn with only acoustic guitar and voice, mike benecke dropped the artiface. His debut ep – simple, intimate, unproduced – was hailed “a stunner… one of the most intimately thoughtful and honestly heartfelt records to come out of LA in years” (la-underground), broadcast by the estimable taste-makers at KCRW Los Angeles, and was west coast finalist on NPR’s 2012 Mountain Stage songwriting contest.

Now, “Call the Waves”, Mike’s deput lp, flows outward from that spring. Leading a band of brothers, their drums, bass, keys, guitars, and voices create ghostly melodies, unique structures, and simple, unexpected songs. Recorded raw, often from a single take, “Call The Waves” haunting, transformative songwriting, takes on a life of its own. (think Sun Kil Moon, Sufjan Stevens, Cass McCombs).