Surface To Air Missive

Surface to Air Missive emerged as the neo-psychedelia project of Taylor Ross, who previously fronted the indie electronic group Dream Love. In Tallahassee, Florida—his birthplace—Ross handled every instrument on the self-titled debut album. Even after sustaining multiple fractures from an incident while drumming, he completed the sessions for this blend of Southern influences and experimental rock textures. Leaving and Stones Throw issued the effort in 2013. The lineup grew to four members for performances, steering Surface to Air Missive toward a cozier psych-pop approach on the subsequent release Third Missive, after which the ensemble moved to Athens, Georgia. There, they backed Of Montreal—whose work had notably shaped their sound—during the 2015 tour led by Kevin Barnes. Leaving put out their next album, A V, two years later.