Those of you who have followed our Subjangle label for a decent length of time will know of our admiration for the beautiful jangle-pop of the Night Heron and, latterly, 3.A.M. Again (after a vastly inferior act got all ‘copyrighty’) solo recording projects of Gloucester, MA,-based Michael Telles, who has collaborated with us of on four of the of the most beautiful and original jangle-pop released since the lockdown days of 2020 (…true even if a tad biased).

Now forgive me if I get a little sentimental about this release as a) it is his last one with Subjangle as he has now signed for Jodie Lowther’s and her husbands wonderful new The Cat Collects label (if you have not heard their Seasons collection as yet, do not waste too much time in surrounding yourself with brilliance), which provides a home for the likes of The Cleaners From Venus, Rachel Love and Lowthers’ solo work and b) I feel a little like a ‘daddy’ bubbling with pride as his kid goes to ‘big school’.

Michael Telles was essentially ‘digital only’ before we e-mailed him, asking if we could put a few of his lovely EPs on a compilation. The e-mail was met with the sort of typically unassuming response that Michael has become kind of famed for in Subjangle Towers, as he wondered whether anyone would really be interested in his music and that he did not want the label to ‘waste its money’. Eventually, we persuaded him, and his four releases sold out in about a week, resulting in second and, in some cases, even third runs and showing that even if Michael still does not ‘get the love’ for his music his fanbase has never really received that particular e-mail !

Of course, Michael, being Michael, felt bad for moving on (heaven knows why!?). and came up with a plan to leave Subjangle on a high note by releasing an extended version of his original seven-track Down Like A Dropscene EP (released digitally on September 8, 2023), which includes five completely new tracks and three from older digital EPs.

Of course, the release itself just feels like the most precious and perfect goodbye possible with its display of what has always made Night Heron/3.A.M. Again, so memorable. Initially, every beautiful melody and jangled riff is punctuated by a beautiful Telles vocal delivery (he once laughably described his voice to me as ‘not very good’ in his typical self-effacing manner) that slides slightly towards the spectral and/or monasterial (my wife always asks me to play the one that sounds a ‘bit like a monk’ on long car journeys) and makes every track so defiantly original.

His voice simply soars in this album, augmenting and accentuating the beauty of neo-acoustic tracks best represented by Care Like You Do, EGS, I Might Too, and Lying Too as it twists within their layers of jangled and arpeggio riffs. Similarly, his lovely voice is delivered with more force in the electro-riff tracks such as You’re Hurt Too, Dust in Sunlight, and Can’t Turn It Off, as he drives them with twists and turns of emotionality to what always feels like a natural conclusion.

Subjangle has been so proud to collaborate with this wonderful act/man over the last few years, and we are absolutely delighted that he left us with this album of perfect 3.A.M. Again, in all his jangly glory and moved on to new pastures with huge potential.

Thanks for everything Michael. Good luck with The Cat Collects and try not to teach Mr. Newell too much…I full expect him to be singing like a monk in a few years time!

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