I, Octopus & Metronome the City - Split CD

Been meaning to get this release up on the blog; however that could be said for many other things I’d like to get around to posting about as well. Anyway, what I have here today is an interesting self-released split CD between two impressive New Orleans based instrumental/experimental bands, I, Octopus and Metronome the City. Each band has contributed one track on the release that clock in at just roughly over twenty minutes each.

The first track “Craig Has a Beard Now” is from the trio of Blake Lewis (guitar/keyboards), Michael Lentz (guitars/keyboards), and J. Steigner (drums) that is I, Octopus. The track almost immediately establishes itself with a bit of a spacey/psych vibe but with the added emphasis on keyboard and electronics there is a bit more “noise” to deal with here than one might expect. The tune rises and falls many times throughout its lengthy course, and during the slower/quieter parts is where a lot of the more interesting experimental aspects of the band take place in my opinion with various ambient noises peaking out from the haze before the band works into a larger guitar filled sound. While not the every day classic pysch/space worship band, I think I, Octopus should find plenty among that circle regardless.

Metronome the City, while a band of similar nature, takes a bit of a different approach for their contribution to the disc. Their track, which is evidently untitled according to the sleeve of the CD, is seemingly a collection of recorded jams that have been edited together to make one long full length track. For the most part this works out fairly well and at one point after three minutes has a pretty startling effect when the soothing mathy plucking of guitar simply drops out in favor of a much more ominous combination of guitar and lurching low-end that creeps in out of the echoing guitar lines. The band continues on with this sort of approach for a good portion of the track; however it’s hard to not be taken in by the bands cavernous and distant sounding guitars. It’s deceptive in its prettiness that keeps the listener hanging on for duration of the medley.

I, Octopus – Craig Has a Beard Now (excerpt) [MP3]
Metronome the City – Untitled Medley (excerpt) [MP3]

For more information on the release and on the bands, check out each of their respective MySpace pages (Metronome the City and I, Octopus). Enjoy!

Pupille - La Música de Moda

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.

The Purkinje Shift...

Featuring members who routinely sported suits and opted never to take breaks in between songs when performing live, The Purkinje Shift were an odd but vastly underappreciated instrumental math-rock trio between the years 1996 and 2000. Although together for only a short amount of years the band was able to put out two fine full-length records, 1997’s Nickel Waves and Carbon Stars and 1999’s Five for the Road and One for the Ditch, along with one single.

The Purkinje Shift was of the Don Cab mold, with guitars that gradually built and further weaved in and out of each other with intricate but beautiful arrangements. However, just as quickly as one would fall in love with the interplay going on between the two guitarists they would lay into a quick harsher sounding crunch. It was just enough to rattle the listener from any sort of comfort zone they may be slipping into. They were definitely masters of the craft. There is a nice description of them on the Copper Press site that I think does a fairly nice job of capturing what they were like in a way. So here is that for anyone that cares to read further:

“3 A.M. Traffic on the city streets is intermittent. The alleys sing with drunks and vagabonds meandering in search of a spot to take respite. Atlanta is silent, save for the wet hum on the pavement as cars streak across its surface, wet from a late-evening rain that took a bite out of the heat that sweltered beyond its afternoon norm. The damp air rises visibly in front of the security lamps and pros and cons and passersby checker the corners and lean beneath awnings of lit storefronts. Enter a sleek blue Mustang, hung low and growling as it roars into view. It swerves to avoid potholes and debris on its way to the city's edge, where it veers onto a freeway entrance ramp. A vision of perfect balance, horsepower, calibration and finesse, it darts into, between and past traffic with pinpoint control and cool concentration, the sharp tilts in direction and downshifts executed in a stalwart fashion befitting those who are first on race day. Guitar, guitar and drums. Adventurous forays into seething nightscapes under the guide of intrepid players who create and resolve tension in ways previously unheard. Daring plummets into dense sonic valleys are answered by escalating passages that raise, one ladder-to-tightrope-walk at a time, not only the listener from the perilous depths, but also raise the stakes, as to successfully render the passengers safe from harm and the music from death-by-bottomless pit, requires great skill, engrossing determination and patience, qualities this trio possesses in spades. Behind the wheel of these six engrossing compositions, The Purkinje Shift work the pedals and hold the wheel in a leather grip, the headlights piercing the darkness like a needle. When the journey is over, the listener will find himself far from Atlanta, on the other side of the Tennessee valley and mountain range, perhaps, all the way to northern Michigan, sitting and staring at his reflection, all lit and bleach white, in a computer monitor that glows like dulling city lights, the faint odor of exhaust escaping out the cracked window.” ~ Copper Press ~

With that, check out some tunes below from both of their albums.

Nickel Waves and Carbon Stars:
The Purkinje Shift – Clint [MP3]

Five for the Road and One for the Ditch:
The Purkinje Shift – TVCR [MP3]

It would appear that the 54º40' or Fight! online store still has copies of everything the band put out, including their lone 7 inch. If that doesn’t work, well there is always Amazon. Whichever route is chosen, definitely pick up an album or two. Well worth it for fans of this sort of thing.

Wayne Western - Grattan Heights

I imagine it doesn’t look too good when the first day after mentioning that the blog shouldn’t be affected by my recent starting of a new job, I end up not updating. Go figure. I still stand by that though, however updates might just start coming during any part of the day or night. So basically whenever I get a chance to, I will try.

Instrumental math-rock is a tricky deal with me. I love it, don’t get me wrong, but I am still somewhat young and probably have had my attention span ruined by television and video games in the not so distant past. So it’s always impressive when I can either run across or receive a disc of this nature that can hold my attention from start to finish. That’s why I love it, because when it’s done right it’s damn good. I recently have had this pleasure with the debut EP Grattan Heights from the Iowa City trio Wayne Western. Their brand spankin’ new EP has just been released on the always reliable Unfun Records. Much in the same vein as label mates Tenebre (who are also very much worth your time), Wayne Western play a form of instrumental math-rock that along with the technical side of it, also has welcomed focus on melody as well. As I mentioned earlier, when it’s done well then it really pays off and Wayne Western certainly have managed that on Grattan Heights. Definitely recommended.

Wayne Western – Grattan Heights [MP3]

For those looking to pick up Grattan Heights then head on over to Unfun Records and do so. It’s definitely worth checking out.

Collapsar - Integers

Collapsar are easily one of my favorite instrumental metal bands that are currently active. So it’s with the utmost joy that I get to talk a bit about their new upcoming album for Escape Artist called Integers. The album will be out on November 20th and for those that were into the bands Self-Titled debut in 2005, well all I can say is that Integers will be a no brainer to pick up. It’s simply spectacular.

For those not familiar with Collapsar, the band was formed in 2002 in Lafayette, Louisiana by ex-Icepick Revival members Brett Judice (drums) and Stephen Sheppert (guitar). The band hooked up with Dave Graeff to fill another guitar slot and recorded their first album which also saw a release through Escape Artist. After a tour in support of the album Graeff departed from the band and his spot was filled by guitarist Adam Harris and recording began on their soon to be released second album Integers.

Two of my favorite bands to ever pull off the whole instru-metal math rock thing were Breadwinner and Bozart. It may well be time to start including Collapsar in that small list. It’s basically as if either of those bands fell face first into a gigantic pile of prog-rock records and emerged from it a whole new tech metal monstrosity simply known as Collapsar. With their new album Integers, they waste no time in kick starting the shred-fest on the nine minute album opener “Axiomatic Fragment”, which basically sets the tone for the rest of what is to come on Integers. One main thing I really enjoy about the album and really Collapsar’s music in general is that on top of all guitar wizardry taking place, they create songs that still manage to sound full and with plenty of texture. No, this isn’t your ordinary guitar and drums set up. It’s my kind of metal, no cheese, no lyrics, no solo wankery to be found…just sixty minutes chock full of riffs and technical guitar playing that even after that amount time will leave you wanting more. If that’s the case, go out and get the bands debut as well if it’s not already in your CD collection.

Collapsar – Drilling Holes Through Space [MP3]

Be sure to pick up Integers when it officially comes out on November 20th. However, for anyone that don’t think they can wait that long it looks as if you can hit up the band on their MySpace and they’ll sell the album early. They’ll also have it on tour with them, so if you manage to catch them live…buy it. Otherwise, keep checking Escape Artist as it will be available there come the end of November. I’m out for the weekend, everyone have a good one!