Built on a Weak Spot

Kuan are a Dayton, Ohio instrumental group that recently passed along their EP On/Standby to me. In actuality it’s two discs, however one of this discs (the “Standby” one) serves as basically a bonus disc of material the band put together while a three piece back in 2007. While paired up with the actual EP “On”, it provides an interesting parallel between where they started and what they’ve worked towards becoming for the six songs that are contained on the disc. Kind of a nice thing to do and an incentive to picking this up I’d say. The screen printed artwork is also a nice added touch.

As for the music, the On portion of the release is where the majority will want to be focusing. There is a nice mixture of post-rock, jazz, and math-rock influences bouncing around in Kuan’s music with some smartly placed guitar effects put to use as well. One thing that I immediately enjoyed was how the second track “G” comes in from a bit of an intro and really sets the tone for the EP with a much more bouncy upbeat quality that I think a lot of post-rock/math-rock groups tend to completely dismiss. Kuan seem to be able to jam out in an improvisational fashion, however seem just as interested in piecing together a nice hook or melody as well. It all just kind of makes you feel good, which is odd to say…but it really does put me in a better mood. At close to 40 minutes on just these six songs alone, there is plenty to wrap your head around.

Kuan – G [MP3]

For those interested in picking this up, it’s available through the band directly on their MySpace or you could hit up CD Baby and get it there. Either way, if you like the posted tune above, it’s definitely worth grabbing.

Being bored late at night after getting home from work can be a good or bad thing. Typically it just has me sitting down watching sleazy horror films until I feel like it’s a good time to head to bed or in other cases I start perusing various online retailers and the money sucking land that is eBay. Sometimes it unearths riches; sometimes it turns up some duds. The San Francisco based group Ventid find themselves among the notables that have turned up in recent weeks with their debut album Rain Dance for Your Wedding.

Although they reside many miles away on the west coast, the band certainly have their hearts in a lot of what Washington, D.C. churned out in the early to middle portion of the previous decade. Most notably bands like Faraquet and a portion of Fugazi’s discography. So to say they are sort of rooted in 90’s math/post-hardcore would be a fair assessment. I’ll admit, I was a bit weary to read the descriptor “surf undertones” within the blurb that directly followed when I clicked to purchase the LP. That could go a number of different ways I initially thought, however the band has incorporated the characteristics of the genre successfully into their sound leaving the listener with some strong rolling melodies to latch on to and subtle yet interesting twang to some of the notes that make up the five songs included on this LP. Some of the tracks venture off into slower paced expanded post-rock territory that touches upon similarities to A Minor Forest or early Tortoise somewhat. Ventid wraps it all together quite nicely, making this definitely worth giving a listen.

Ventid – Shell Thief Repentance [MP3]

For those interested in picking this up, it’s available directly from the band on their website. There is also a list located on the site of record stores on the west coast that are carrying the album for anyone that might be in the area.

I remember enjoying Mike Quillin’s previous band Theta for the somewhat brief period they seemed to be around. I think they managed to release two EP’s (Self-Titled and Tone Poems for Sad Times), which one of the tracks from the latter was used on one of the first installments of the monthly mixes I made before I ever started this blog. Sadly the band seemed to disappear after the EP and I never really knew what became of them. Quillin has however turned up with a new band along with fellow Theta drummer Adam Mitchell named Sentient that have their debut album Tundra coming out on Sun Sea Sky early this July. For those though eager to get an early listen in can purchase it digitally right now through the label if they so please. Sentient also happens to feature former members from various other Lawrence, KS based bands such as Filthy Jim and the sludge/weirdo rock monster Jumbo’s Killcrane. However, Sentient remain pretty much on par with the sound that Quillin and Mitchell had developed in Theta. That being solid atmospheric/dreamy rock that, while dense and often times heavier than Theta, is every bit as beautiful as their previous band. I know there are probably still fans out there lingering, so obviously it’s recommend you check out Tundra when it comes out. Fans of big melodies mixed in with a healthy dose of spacey rock in the area of Failure or label mates The Storied Northwest should definitely find something to enjoy on Tundra. It’s also good to hear Quillin back in the vocal spotlight again as well.

Sentient – Veritas [MP3]

For anyone wishing to pick up Tundra, it’s currently available for pre-order on Sun Sea Sky. Or as previously mentioned, it can also be had immediately in digital format (320 or FLAC as it appears). Do pick it up one way or another if you enjoy what you hear.

So I didn’t expect to go that long without updating, however thanks to the short break there is now nice wooden floors where carpets used to be where I am sitting. Dismantling everything in here and putting it all back up was kind of a pain and took a bit longer than I expected. In the end though, it’s pretty much worth it.

This is something I’ve wanted to write about for a bit now but kind of had to wait until it was officially out there, but thankfully I got the go ahead during this past week. It’s always pretty cool and interesting to see an idea come to life and see it progress from its very beginnings into its final stages. I had this cool opportunity with an album from the Denmark group Shelflife. Before the band was actually even a band I had been talking to one of the members for quite some time before that and he’d always tossed around the idea of putting something together to record. When it eventually came together things went much faster than I’d ever anticipated and before I knew it Shelflife had this album for me to listen to. However, getting to hear early bits and pieces of the album was really quite neat along with being able to give my opinion on them as well.

Anyway, Shelflife made it incredibly easy for me to give my input as everything that was sent my way sounded great. I think everyone can agree that listening to friends’ bands/music can sometimes be a bit of a dicey situation. That was never an issue here though and when I finally got to hear their self-titled debut I was prepared for anything, but once again what they delivered was solid from start to finish.

Shelflife, although being based in Denmark, have a very strong influence and resemblance to the Midwestern rock sound. It’s so much that the band chose Carl Amburn to mix the album who has worked with Midwestern bands like Traindodge and Self-Evident in the past. All throughout when the band was putting this album together it always struck me that they shared a similarity with the great KC act Stella Link, in that they take on a more dream like or drifting sound with the melodies that fill out the songs. But Shelflife probably head further in that direction as they incorporate various elements of shoegaze with warbling guitar tones that surface from time to time throughout the record, but predominately presents itself on the track “The Inevitable Emotional Hangover”.

I urge anyone that enjoys the bass rich and big hooks of Midwestern rock to check this album out. Here is an MP3 for anyone that is iffy on downloading the whole album without hearing something first.

Shelflife – Tape Song [MP3]

Anyone that is interested in hearing or obtaining the full album then head on over here where it’s been made available by the band for free download. Definitely give it a spin if you get a chance.

I don’t think I’ve heard a record for quite awhile that is as two sided as the debut Builds Brand New from Houston, TX’s Sharks and Sailors. And I don’t mean that as any slight towards the band or their record, it’s just kind of interesting to hear an album that starts one way and ends entirely in another. Sharks and Sailors however seem to have a pretty good feel for whatever they choose to play though as evidenced through their debut which was self-released by the band at the beginning of this month.

Through the first few songs on Builds Brand New it appears that Sharks and Sailors are band that is firmly entrenched in a Midwestern post-hardcore sort of sound, albeit a bit more of a dreamy variation. I suppose that could have been my first indication that this band had something more up their sleeve. Songs like “Builds Brand New” and my personal favorite “Terminal Lesson” both feature the large riffs and gripping melodies that are to be expected, however it’s the laid back and intriguingly chill vocals from both Melissa Lonchambon and Michael Rollin that push these songs into more captivating territory. Thrown in the mix is “Cliffs”, which is a glimpse of the other side of the Sharks and Sailors coin and the shape the album takes more so towards the last three songs. With their shift to a moodier and darker sound, the band almost appears to be influenced by the burgeoning post-rock crop, at times even sounding a bit shoegazy. However, thanks in part to the bands overall soothing tone throughout the album nothing ever sounds out of place. Builds Brand New is a solid debut that covers a lot of ground in its ten songs and certainly leaves the door open for unexpected developments with future material.

Sharks and Sailors – Terminal Lesson [MP3]

For more information on the band and for those looking to pick up Builds Brand New, just head on over to their MySpace to do so. Enjoy, and everyone have a great weekend!

What we have here is the new EP from Australia’s power post-rock collective Laura. The EP titled Yes Maybe No has just been released on Elevation Records at the beginning of this month. The EP follows up their second album Radio Swan is Down that was released last year, which may be one of the best post-rock related albums I’ve managed to and willingly hear over the past few years. And you have to remember that I am generally not the largest fan of said genre. However the power and beauty contained within Laura’s music is something that not even I can deny or just casually brush off. They pack a fairly large and often menacing punch that comes off as rather genuine, which is something that I think is often missing from a lot of the music that finds itself underneath the same umbrella.

Yes Maybe No is a bit of step in a different direction however for Laura. Not as dark as their previous album, but still supplying the same shoegazey wall of sound whenever they so choose. The EP is filled by three different ambient styled tracks to sort of segue into more traditional structured songs. The final track “Another One for the Humans” seems to be the largest departure for the band as it’s a rather lengthy dive into the more moody subdued post-rock territories until about the six and half minute mark where it takes a rather interesting turn towards a noisier jamming session that fills out the rest of the track and is definitely best heard with the stereo turned up. All in all though it would appear Yes Maybe No is a rather concise display of what Laura brings to the table and in the process gives us the listeners a bit of a look into what the future might hold for this rather talented group of musicians.

Laura – Cardboard Cut Out Robot Victim Hero Children [MP3]

For those interested in picking up a copy of Yes Maybe No then definitely head on over to Elevation Records. I strongly suggest doing it ASAP as this EP has been limited to just 2000 copies and will be gone for good after that. Enjoy!

Four albums in 10 years, the Tarragona based Pupille have consistently been putting out melodically twisting and precise instrumental rock during that time. The band is back this year with their fifth album titled La Música de Moda, which as been put out by Bcore Disc out of Barcelona, Spain.

Being a five piece can sometimes be misleading, Pupille aren’t a band that produce a large wall of noise or use that number to power the listener into submission. Instead, and one of the things that makes Pupille so impressive and a pleasure to listen to, is that each one of the members can be picked out of the melding and winding sound. Thanks to the extremely talented work of each member, it makes La Música de Moda a fantastic treat to listen to on a larger home stereo. Getting a chance to hear the three featured guitarists float in and out from one channel to the other just never gets old throughout the seven songs that make up the album. Bouncing off one another effortlessly and complete with smooth transitions that lead to the next guitarist’s arrangement, there is plenty contained within the album that make repeated listens a definite must. And that is not taking into the account the wonderful music that all of this ends up creating.

Pupille – La Comedia Hungara [MP3]

For those interested in picking up La Música de Moda then head on over to Bcore Disc to pick it up. Fans of finely executed instrumental rock shouldn’t pass this one up, a fine piece of work.

Just recently released at the end of this past March was the debut from Thisquietarmy titled Unconquered out on Foreshadow Records. Some may already be familiar with Thisquietarmy and that the man behind the moniker, Eric Quach, is also a guitarist for the fantastic post-rock/shoegaze group Destroyalldreamers. Taking his love for fuzz and ambiance further (which is already hinted at in the space defiant band names), Quach has turned to his solo project for an outlet and the results of it certainly speak for itself.

Unconquered is a record that takes on a few different shapes and sounds as it progresses through the eight tracks that make up the album. The opener “Immobilization” is a fantastic joint effort between Quach and guest collaborator Aidan Baker. To little surprise it resembles Baker’s work on his past textural/ambient albums and it’s obvious that the two teamed together create a fairly captivating creative force. However, one of the things that makes Unconquered such a strong debut is that Quach doesn’t try to mimic these results for the rest of the album and the structure and mood shifts considerably after the first track. It follows up on the next couple tracks with a semi-abrasive wash of rising and falling distortion. “Battlefield Arkestrah” is a notable punishing piece of work, which is featured further below. One of my favorite tracks off the album is easily “The Great Escapist”, which features vocals from female singer Meryem Yildiz. The implementation of vocals is a fantastic addition and although it may be one of the more structured tracks on the album, it still fits right along with the rest of the album.

While Unconquered may not be something completely new to drone/ambient fans, it’s surely something that should and likely will be enjoyed by fans of the genre. Quach’s execution and unique approach to the genre is certainly worth checking out.

Thisquietarmy – Battlefield Arkestrah [MP3]

For those looking to pick up Unconquered, it is currently available through Tonevendor. Fans of this sort of music should definitely give it a chance. Also, for anyone that is looking for some more sampling of Thisquietarmy’s music, then definitely download the internet only single that features the excellent non-album track “Dronewars”. In order to do that, just head on over here. Enjoy!

With U.S. Maple being on hiatus for the foreseeable future, guitarist Todd Rittman and later era drummer Adam Vida set out and teamed up with former 90 Day Men member Rob Lowe and the brother of Adam, Ben Vida to form Singer. The band has just recently released their full-length debut, Unhistories, this past March on Drag City.

I remember first hearing about Singer and where it would lead. Their debut kind of snuck up on me, but something like Singer is definitely a good surprise. I guess it’s not terribly surprising the band resembles U.S. Maple in quite a few ways, most notably continuing on with the off-kilter guitar arrangements and general “making something from nothing” type of mentality that the previous outfit so successfully pulled off. There are a few key differences interspersed throughout the record though. One being that the name of the band is something to be taken quite literally, which was a complete surprise to me. I had no idea that the foursome would be collectively providing vocals. Furthermore, I didn’t expect them to be harmonized in such a way that they are on the album, albeit it’s Lowe that often takes center stage with the vocal duties. It’s quite a difference and really contrasts well with overall uneasiness that is created by the deconstructed rhythms floating along behind them.

I hate to use the word accessible, but Singer provides a bit more of a gentler approach than what was previously experimented with in U.S. Maple. But let me remind you that I am using the term “accessible” very very loosely. Singer does a pretty good job at diving into the odd guitar/rhythm experimentations of Rittman’s and A. Vida’s previous group and delivering something with a few interesting twists that ultimately work better than I think most would expect.

Singer – Dumb Smoke [MP3]

For those looking to pick up Singer’s debut album Unhistories, then head on over to Drag City to do so. I definitely recommend this purchase for fans of U.S. Maple.

It has been raining here off and on all morning, seemed like the perfect time to throw on the new record Further from Greensboro, NC shoegaze trio Glissade. While the cover of the album features a nice shot of an ocean coast, I don’t have that same sort of view here in the Midwest so I am making due by syncing it up to a cloudy/rainy afternoon. Music to watch the streams of water jet down my road and into my yard, creating a lovely mess of trash and decomposing leaves to pick up tomorrow.

While I am not quite sure how long Glissade have been around, Further marks their fifth release and second full-length record. It also happens to be the first time I have ever heard the band and I must say the initial impression is a strong one. Further strives to be a successful and effective atmospheric journey, and for the most part it meets its goal. Just by the appearance of the album, it would almost lead one to believe that the entire album is just slowly blended rise and falls of distortion. At least for me the album name Further automatically triggers some sort of Flying Saucer Attack element. However though, Glissade takes on more of a post-rock approach, giving the songs more of a distinctive appearance from one another. Furthermore, the band also manages to burst out with some fairly hard hitting and intense pieces during some of the songs climaxes which reveal a completely unexpected side to the band…at for me as a first time listener. But going back to the FSA mention though, while it’s probably completely coincidental, Glissade does have a slight psychedelic wrapping to their song craft that does kind of remind me of the bands more pysch influenced material. This is definitely something that fans of instrumental shoegaze/post-rock will want to check out. Think Destroyalldreamers, but without as much of the glimmering sheen to them and bit of a rougher edge.

Glissade – Fields of Snow [MP3]

For those looking to pick up Glissade’s latest full-length, then head on over to Tonevendor to do so. Good stuff.