On Freaks of Nurture, Holy Wave evolves from garage jangle to guitar surges. Voluminous pedals border on shoegaze, the El Paso-to-Austin quintet’s fourth album floating atop a rhythmic haze that serves as the medium. Unfolding dream “California Took My Bobby Away” contrasts seamlessly with the breathless dash of “You Should Lie,” and a brooding oddness to “Magic Landing” opposes the pop build of “Sir Isaac Nukem.” “She Put a Seed in My Ear” and “Air Wolf” come dosed by acid pop. Freaks of Nurture captures Holy Wave as it takes a step toward greatness. (Fri., 5:50pm, Levitation Tent)

***.5

This article appears in April 29 • 2016.

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Michael Toland started writing about music in 1988 on the Gulf Coast, moved to Austin in early 1991, and has inflicted bylines upon the corporeal and digital pages of Pop Culture Press, The Big Takeover, Blurt, Amplifier, Austin.citysearch, the Austin American Statesman, Goldmine, Sleazegrinder, Rock & Roll Globe, High Bias, FHT Music Notes, and, since 2011, The Austin Chronicle.