Chaparral

“To have a complete story, we must not forget the prefaces and backgrounds that have developed our characters,” says Kyle Hager of the Austin-based five-piece Holy Wave when asked about their latest single “Chaparral.” And while it’s an apt summation of the song’s lyrical themes of exploring the past to better understand the present, it’s also a fitting testament to the band’s sonic template. Owing initially to the primal urgency of garage rock and the dizzying atmospherics of psych, Holy Wave evolved to encompass a broader swath of sounds, culling from sources like the kosmische-pop of Stereolab and the disciplined production style of Steely Dan. That said, Holy Wave have never been mired in nostalgia; they’ve merely aimed to be thorough students of their trade, learning from previous generations to move forward into the future. Fittingly, “Chaparral” explores the notion of growing into the next phase of life while retaining a bond to youth. The song title references a sweet-smelling