Grass is Green

gush gush gush gush.

I'll admit when our "Mr Troop of Echoes" drummer Dan Moriarty first brought their 2011 effort to my attention..I wasn't sold. A girl's allowed to change her mind right??!! Well now is your chance to learn from my mistake. High Energy extremely creative indie prog.  Seriously when these songs turn corners I want to pump my first and scream "GREAT FRICKEN IDEA" haha. This is going to sound maybe a bit off base but think of a youthful and excited version of Polvo. Really inspired rock music that is one hard animal to pin down. Sure they clearly love them some prog rock and math nastiness but the indie rock vibe is strong and blah blah blah. At this juncture just go to their bandcamp and get your knowledge on. This is music to be listened to..not explained. Let me shut me yammer.

grassisgreeen  

Prismatic Mantis - Umbrella (2008)

In the mood to exit the room your sitting in? Stick those headphones in because this is something thats sure to take your mind away for at least the duration of of this record.

Prismatic Mantis inhabit a realm of ambient shifts that glide toward controlled chaos.  Within this ecosystem at odds, the creatures that have acclimated to such a habit truly run the range as well. Acoustic spanish tinged guitar, space-jazz (space-jam?), math rock, electronic, controlled noise, sampled music and progressive rock. All of this and more with a layer of psychedelia blanketed on top. I use these organic words because what you're about to experience is a very natural sounding project that is incredibly honest.  With everything firing its easy to assume that it could come off incredibly cold....this is the furthest from the truth one would imagine.

I can't stress this enough. This is beautiful work from individuals that have a clear vision and are artistically restless. Rarely does one run head first into a work so dense and chalk full of ideas. To close, I would like to thank those responsible for opening my vision and to plead to our limited readers that this is something that you should not pass by without giving this a heavy listen.

 umbrella

Racquets / Exchampion

 Getting smacked in the face by music is one of my more favorite things to have happen to me when I have a first run through of an album.

Racquets - occupies a space in music that is electronic but also with live instrumentation. sounds simple enough however this stuff is (((((INCREDIBLY)))) busy, jazzy, occationally funky, and one of our over used words here "mathy". Everyone should be excited about this because it is just something you've gotta check out. The production on those nimble drums just sets my heart ablaze with love. jesus christmas nuts this is one those groups that just as you think they are done doing something sweet THEY DO SOMETHING EVEN MORE BRAIN MELTING. PLEASE!

Exchampion - A side project of Raquets is similiar in some ways but different in some pretty interesting ways. Exchampion while still seemingly having some live instrumentation seems more focused on synth's and different sounds than their main project. I perfer the above better but its kind of like saying I prefer green tea to peppermint tea, both rock me to my core.

please do yourselves a favor :)

Midair - Faceache (2012)

Math rock from down south via Richmond Virginia. Midair play an incredibly self assured blend of math rock with a bit of post-hardcore and post-rock leanings. Vocals? yea some of those happen. But these guys have some serious ideas ripping through these songs. Nothing incredibly odd or angular but just great dual guitar interplay with the drums. Some pretty memorable melodic lines as well, thats something I can always get behind. The great thing at least to my ears is that none of this sounds recycled.  Not to only that but their is an ambiguity in the play style that could easily trick me into thinking this could have come from years ago. Strong thumbs up on these hands from this guy. Give em some love.

midair.

Mugsy Boges - Sangfroid (2012)

Saratoga Springs NY based band that is holding down some really interesting jams here.
I say this because there are a lot of genres being bandied about. Indie rock, twinkly guitars, straight up math rock, alt rock and a spritz of pop punk for flavor. In spirit I kind of get a little bit of a Grown Up's vibe going and this can only mean good things. I appreciate the playing style here as it is pretty loose which isn't usually something I get totally down with. These guys are younger and its a first release but I say pretty dang darn stronger than a lot of first efforts. The vocals actually ended up surprising me in a good way on that second track. Worth the peaking effort as there is certainly something for everyone.

mugsyboges

Arcing - Doubt (2012)

Tiny Hawks? anyone?
Dont fret Papa Swords is HERE.


Arcing is essentially Tiny Hawks with the addition of a bassist. What does it mean to you? Well it means your face is going to be pounded by awesome on all fronts. No really this stuff is so so so so good it cant be healthy. The music here is an updation of what Tiny Hawks were trying to do. A shout style aggressive math punk with a technical edge and just the right amount of melody from the guitar. It truly is a taste sensation that can't be beat.  I can safely say few bands going right now can match these cats in what is going down. If any of this sounds interesting or if you just want me to listen to something with the promise that it will be awesome...well this is it friends club.

arcing.bandcamp
dwnld

The Littlest Viking - The Littlest Viking (2012)

 Last time on Plenty of Swords..

Any human animal that has stumbled upon our page with at least a passing interest in math rockery should be familiar with these two boys. The Littlest Viking lay down some really great down to earth math rock with more of a focus on song craft than guit shredin. This new release is a restless one to be sure with different flavors being added to the mix. Vocals make more than a few appearances and dont seem to really grab me by the throat like I had hoped. Really the songs are at their best when these two are laying down emotional instrumental rock.  Admittedly I found the rhythms to be a bit more straight forward than last go. Yes there are some very solid songs going here that I will prolly come back to but on the whole...I'm feeling a little let down. Time could be the great decider however once I get more of a chance to spend time with this one.

Also someone must have eaten the "pop punk pill" on a couple of these jammers

TLV

Carson Wells - Wonderkid (2012)

First off before I dive in I would like to just say that I appreciate all the awesome posting thats been going on here at the swords in my absence (heres looking at you twinzy) I have just arrived back from spending a week out of the country with my family to get married in the Bahamas which was truly a one of a kind experience.

Scotland based Carson Wells seems to split the difference between a sort of energized post punk with melodic screaming and more technical math rock style especially with the drums (a plus). Very solid songs where every instrument is doing something vital and awesome at all times. It has a bit of a post rocky vibe as well but not much.Trust me when I say if you spend any time with these guys you wont regret it in the least.


carsonwells