2011 has been a busy year for Michael Beach.  March saw the release of his first single since relocating to San Francisco from Australia. "A Horse" was a clear display of the versatility he has become known for after multiple releases with Melbourne’s Electric Jellyfish (Ecstatic Yod/Twin Lakes) and was received with glowing reviews. 

Since then, Beach has been busy touring Europe and Australia and recording his follow-up, a mini-album titled Mountains + Valleys. For this latest collection of songs, Beach assembled an all-star cast of West Coast musicians, including drummer Utrillo Kushner (Comets On Fire, Colossal Yes) and Raymond Raposa (Castanets) on guitar and vocals. Recorded by Trans Am’s Phil Manley, Mountains + Valleys has the same familiar feeling of intimacy on previous Michael Beach releases, mixed with an intensity reminiscent of early Sonic Youth and Sebadoh tunes. This one sees its official release November 8th as a limited-edition cassette (100) and digital download on Twin Lakes/Spectacular Commodity. 

Australian tastemaker Mess and Noise described Beach's debut LP Blood Courses as “timeless.” With this year's output, Beach engages all of the emotions of a man exiled from his adopted home to further push his reputation as an honest and confrontational songwriter.

Listen to his entire catalogue and pre-order Mountains + Valleys here.