Built on a Weak Spot

You often hear about projects in which one person composes all the music and plays all the instruments on a recording, however most of the time that requires a full band to perform live. Not often do you see what Nathanial Rappole does under the moniker of Gull, a literal representation of the one man band. I’ll admit I was skeptical when I first learned about it. It seemed like it could just end up being a gimmicky item, but after having the pleasure of viewing some videos on Youtube of Gull performing I was sold on the idea and the music Mr. Rappole creates.

Some may recognize Rappole as a member of Ultra Dolphins and Snack Truck. If you’re a resident of Richmond, VA then it’s likely you’re already quite aware of Rappole and more specifically his project Gull as he said to often be spotted playing live throughout the area. You’ll notice that a few of the videos on the internet are him doing just that. The music for the most part is an interesting combination of mathy rhythms that often venture into some spacey psych territory during the four songs contained on this debut single. Naturally, the music has a bit more staying power when seeing the performance behind it all…but the songs simply standing alone do enough to recognize this as something more than just a guy making a bunch of noise. There is a legitimate showing of talent here.

Gull – Chain Saw it Coming [MP3]

For anyone interested in picking this up, it’s still available through Molsook Records. Definitely pick up and be sure to check out some more videos of Gull in action on MySpace or by browsing around on Youtube. Very cool.

That Fucking Tank are back with their second album Tanknology, which is set to be released on July 6th, however is currently available online through Gringo Records. Some may remember the band and their baritone math styling that graced their last record The Day of Death by Bono Adrenalin Shock back in ’06. Not a whole lot has changed here for the band on their latest offering, although there is a notable running influence of classic/progressive rock that gives the record a bit more of a poppy feel to it that I don’t recall the previous album necessarily having. I think their pseudo cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark” that appears on the album is pretty good evidence of that and is actually kind of neat to hear. However, That Fucking Tank still remains one of the many great bands making interesting music over in the UK. Tanknology just happens to come along during what seems to be a really good strong run of releases that I’ve had the chance of hearing in the past month or so from over there. Although the band seem to be moving in a more rhythm driven direction, there is still plenty of the spastic guitar work that helps make them as fun as they are to listen to.

That Fucking Tank – Keanu Reef [MP3]

For anyone looking to pick up Tanknology, it’s available now through Gringo. Definitely pick it up if you enjoy what you hear!

Push-Pull is a Bloomington, Indiana trio that has taken the definition of “erratic” to heart and completely ran with it. Their music is a mixture of oddness that spans the depths of progressive rock, post-punk, and electronics to create a sound that is…well just plain weird at times but impressively tuneful and melodic in many ways too. Between Noise and the Indians is the bands follow up to their debut album Hello Soldier that appeared on Sickroom Records a couple years ago. Joyful Noise will be handling the release duties this go around however, which have the record set to be released on June 23rd. On it, the band seems to thrive on lulling the listener in with catchy yet powerful pop slowly wrapping them around their finger before flicking them right back off by busting out waves of sludgy bass and riffage that hits so quick that it seems nearly unfair. It almost reminds me of when I was when high school and I walked into journalism class fearing if the teacher was going to tear my face off due to her very evident bi-polarity. While they are obviously not the first band to choose this path, they remain very much separated due in part to their excellent musicianship that is routinely displayed on the album. Good stuff all around.

Push-Pull – Wright, Right? [MP3]

Be sure to pick up Between Noise and the Indians when it comes out later this month. Keep tabs on the Joyful Noise site in the meantime.

I Am Forever is the fifth full-length from Midwestern rock staples Traindodge and marks yet another large shift to the bands sound. It’s pretty amazing to go back roughly ten years and notice just how much the band has evolved and grown over that period of time. Starting out as a band that clearly was enamored by the sound of Giants Chair and Molly McGuire over their first couple of records, they’ve since grown into something that clearly can be claimed as their own distinctive sound.

I Am Forever in a way picks up where their previous album Wolves left off, putting an even heavier emphasis on synths and electronics that has by this point become an integral part of the bands music. While past releases have always shown flourishes of prog-rock influence to them, it’s safe say now that they are most certainly fans. Just take a look at the cover for example, that thing almost has to be a tip of the cap to all those wild LP covers that spanned the 70’s and some of the 80’s. Sort of keeping right within all of that is the music itself that is more than ever carried by key heavy tones and guitars that recall the harmonies of 70’s era hard rock. The track “The River” is certainly a shining example of this. All the while though, and most certainly the thing that I absolutely love about this band is that they maintain a certain familiarity and connection to their Midwestern rock roots that still manages to work its way into the music while continuing to add new and interesting elements. It all amounts to some of the finest moments that I’ve had the pleasure of hearing from the band, to be specific the track “Insisted Away” is a personal favorite that hits the sort of apex that Traindodge have become synonymous with over the years.

Traindodge – The Best Thing You Never Said [MP3]

While I Am Forever doesn’t officially come out until the beginning of December, it’s available now directly from Ascetic Records to order. If you’re a fan of the band, then well you probably already have this or plan on having it. If not, then pick this up and rock out. It’s obviously recommended.

I’ll admit I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from Mothlite and their debut The Flax of Reverie. It seemed like an album that could be almost too grandiose and far reaching for its own good. And a lot of times there is nothing worse than an album that reaches for the sky but inevitably falls flat on its face…I mean if albums had faces that is. However from the opening moments of the track “Riverside” and the sinister sound of fluttering guitar notes gently resting in the background I had a good feeling for what the rest of The Flax of Reverie had in store.

For those not familiar with Mothlite, it is essentially the duo of London, England based multi-instrumentalist Daniel O’Sullivan (Guapo, Miasma & the Carousel of Headless Horses) and Finnish produce/engineer Antti Uusimaki. The two of them have come together on The Flax of Reverie to create a beautifully composed album full of cinematic atmospherics and sounds that is something of a rollercoaster ride through darkness and light. There is definitely a noticeable balance between the two that come and go throughout each song that is handled by O’Sullivan/Uusimaki impressively, creating a shift in moods that should have the listener firmly gripped. While the album could certainly be all gloom and doom, the duo lets enough light creep in to loosen things up and break away from the uneasiness/unsettling aspects of it. The music itself that makes up the fifty minute album is full of intricately placed strings, percussion, and winds that leaves no doubt that both O’Sullivan and Uusimaki have a crystal clear idea as to what they are doing, erasing any doubts I might have had for the album.

Mothlite – Riverside [MP3]

The Flax of Reverie is currently available from Southern Records for anyone that enjoys what they hear and is interested in picking up the album. Enjoy!

It’s all too rare anymore whenever I check out a band that has some hype building around them that they actually live up to the amount of praise that is being heaped upon them. Sometimes not listening to what my gut feeling tells me to do is a good idea and despite it telling me over and over again not to buy into the things being said about Crystal Antlers, I did anyway. And boy am I glad I did as the band falls into one of those rare cases of actually being really damn good…just like everyone else was making them out to be in the first place. Stupid me, right? Obviously, yeah.

The Long Beach based Crystal Antlers are riding high off the growing success of their recently self-released EP simply dubbed as “EP”. Rightfully so though, as EP absolutely smokes through six songs that somehow blend elements of blues, psych, post-punk, prog, and god only knows what else into this finely crafted 25 minute package. Typically I don’t get too into what comes off as strictly derivative psych, so it’s incredibly refreshing to hear a band like this take it to a completely different level to the point where I don’t even really know what I am listening to at times. Crystal Antlers seem like a band that could go anywhere with their sound, and I think that’s what ultimately makes them the exciting listen that they are. Who knows what their next record could sound like; it’s pretty much a wild card after listening to EP.

Crystal Antlers – A Thousand Eyes [MP3]

For those interested in picking up a copy of the Crystal Antlers EP then just head on over to their MySpace.