Hawks & Oxen - Shadow Matter (2011)

According to the bandcamp these folks were dead in the water before these songs were fully recorded. Huge freaking shame that we cant expect more from this Minneapolis four piece. We've just just got a lot of amazing things baked together to create a truly amazing end product.

Field recordings, Prog rock rhythms, Lush pop harmonies, Dissonant yet jubilant guitar interplay, some tight tight drums and Occational saxophone.

Its stitched so tightly that I even felt bad picking it apart. It just works so wonderfully. Math rock that is clearly of its own devices.

Plus facial hair on a baby totally screams math, yea?

hwks & oxn

Squeamish - Hammerhead (2012)

Been sitting on this for a minute and couldn't really give you an answer to why. This is some blasting out of the gates high energy guitar mayhem. Its a scenario where spirits of departed pop punk bands have possesed the bodies of math rock guitarists.  It gives it an interesting edge and vocals are highly present and enjoyable. Dare I say a more polished take on the whole philly noodle scream scene. Guitars and Vox way more interesting here. Some pretty sly breakdowns crop up here and there and the mathy guitar interplay never lets up.  Info looks to be pretty scant on these cats so if anyone has the 411 drop it off. In any event its a recipe for you listening to these 5 songs.

Squeamish

Likes Lions - First the Head Later the Tail (2012)

Vocal centric alt-rock with a generous slathering of math from England. What you might be noticing first off is that your not going to get buried in time shifts and dissonant guitar heroics but you can expect some pretty powerful pop hooks...the good kind. Clearly a lot of blood and tears has been put into ensuring that these 5 songs run as a cohesive statement of who they are as a group.  So if you need the lighter side of your math rock cravings satiated while still getting some polished songwriting and excellent singing then I suggest you do what is best and click below.

Likes Lions