Do nascimiento - Do nascimiento (2011)

Confession time: I am a math rock hoarder.

It finally feels good to get that off my chest. So now that a team of trained individuals are twisting my arm, I am emptying my back catalog of tasty math from years past. First stop — Italy. 

Do Nascimiento are an impassioned bunch of gents with lots of high energy old school "emo-ness". A bit in the realm of that Philly sound but unhinged vocally (in a good way). Instrumentally you've heard this before, but it's honest work and they do try a couple different approaches here and there.

Quality stuff, but I do tend to like more creative juices dripping from this stuff.

(Bonus points for the pele nod)

P For Persia - Coral Canyon (2011)

2011 seems a bit dated than we are used to here, I realize — BUT! These UK spacey chip math indie noise beasts are releasing a split EP (Aegis Arctic Alp) tomorrow and as such you should all be on high alert (because it's awesome). Certainly check out Coral Canyon beforehand to get some fresh perspective before you dive headfirst into the EP tomorrow. It's some pretty scattershot music, but they do a great job of wrangling everything under one roof.

Beach Parade - Tour Loko EP (2011)

Eli one of our fine members of the PoS had gotten me wise to these guys a little while back. I can safely say I am embarrassed to have missed such excellently crafted and instrumentally complex punk music from Ithaca NY. It's got that insane energy with great powerful vocals and some extremely inspired dual guitars. If your in the mood from some high flying rock then let this be your first stop of the night.

Beach Parade

Minoans - Linear A (2011) + Linear B (2012)

Minoans are an electrifying trio hailing from the English Midlands. They come bearing two gifts, in the form of (1) somewhat short (but definitely sweet) album and (1) EP. Inside, you'll find just under 41 minutes of mathy emo goodness in total, complete with beautiful, resonant lyricism and that majorly great math rock instrumental work that you all seem to love so much. If you don't mind unique, poetic lyrics and vocals that are somehow seen by some poor, misguided souls as odd-sounding, (Come on, people! Unique is a much better word.) you're in for one hell of a listening session. What're you waiting for? Dig in.

You can find them on the Facebook as well as their own website.

Linear A
Linear B

Cordyceps - Fragmented Structures (2011)

Cordyceps is a Belgian two-piece that marries some interesting elements. Electronic music along side live guitars.  The rhythms are mathy but you could also argue that its more of a case of glitch and breakcore with some pleasant guitars. Dont be fooled though because this is worth the time to check into. You could easily dismiss this as gimmicky, as surface descriptions smack of such things.  Its not new by any means but its different enough and done with enough love that it deserves its spot certainly. Have to say as well that as is not usually the case the spoken word samples help add a great dynamic.




cordyceps

Hellekin Mascara - Wanna be Dino (2011)

not a lot of explanation needed.

Italian 

post math

delicious

 

Wanna be Dino (2011) 

Shanghai Sally - Motive Kamatsu (2011)

SOMETHING DIFFERENT! THANK YOU. 

It is a wonderful thing to see so much math rock in the air these days but it makes it that much harder

to truly unearth the ones that "have something special" or are "trying to push the genre"..I digress. Shanghai Sally here take an interesting angle that could easily turn into a dark situation. Progressive rock core with math rock rhythms and ....wait for it....jam band style solo's. Sounds like a recipe for bad times BUT this four piece clearly know what they are doing. Impressive instrumental gymnastics aside these guys are a lot of fun. The solo's themselves also don't feel tacked on and if at any moment they are grating on you the rhythm section is freaking the flack out with some inhuman groove. Trust is a beautiful thing so click below and show them some love. 

shanghaisally

Bear Bones - Seat Save Infinity (2011)

Bear Bones is Mike Osso (guitarist from Father Figure) so automatically you've got a possibility that this is going to be freaking sweet sauces...it is by the way.

Again we've got the electronic aspects on full display but really this to me smacks of some modern day Jazz Fusion...albeit one functioning on a creative level rather than knocking on old mahavishnu's door.
Lets just say this is a bit of a departure on the surface from Father Figure, but peel back the rind and you do have some similarities.

Testimonials from my children:

"It sounded like a video game at first then it changed to some really good music. It sounded kinda weird...not really weird but when it changed it sounded like something on the radio"
Oni (8 years old)

"Maybe its from a game boy game? I thought it was cool"
Maeson (4 years old)

"I liked it. It sounded like aliens were invading the earth"
Tatiana (7 years old)


Some confusing and glowing testimonial. But they all were dancing as they listened so mission accomplished.

Bear Bones

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

Our Brother The Native - Vows (2011)

Perhaps a little off the beaten path but grab your favorite walking staves and I will show you something that you will really enjoy.

Our Brother The Native appears to be the bulk responsibility of one Joshua Bertam hailing from Ann Arbour Michigan. A rotating cast of players help flesh out the rest.

Ambient yet busy with a strong pop sense. Group vocals play a large roll as well as a heavy percussion aspect. Structurally songs take twists and turns like a frantic orchestra. Instruments fly in and out oboe, strings, guitar who the hell knows half the time. Amidst this growing business there is a electronic glitch component that skews the proceedings even further with a cavalcade of samples. So what we get essentially is progressive baroque glitch pop? Now if I was just reading that I would say "well I need to hear what the hell that sounds like" You really should. This is some carefully crafted enjoyable musics right here.

Vows (2011)

Healthy Fears - The Dreaded Diamond (2011)

Piano Jazz Folk
Female Vox
Mathy Rhythms
Fairly Complex Drums

Walkin that line hard. Certainly more folk based but some pretty great stuff. bit of a change up. Anything up there sound neato? eh? well give it a shot. Can come across straight forward in places but hey I'm all about grabbing the cat on the limb, what? more coffee? yes please.

The Dreaded Diamond

The Redneck Manifesto

this is my first post on POS. i am damn stoked to be here...let the posting begin.

I've chosen The Redneck Manifesto as my first post because they have a very special place in my heart. These are the guys that really introduced post-rock/math-rock to Ireland. Without them, Ireland wouldn't be exporting the likes of Adebisi Shank, ASIWYFA, Enemies, The Cast of Cheers and many more. Without a doubt, The Redneck Manifesto have played a big part in what Ireland is producing these days. No silly U2 here...

This is their latest release, Friendship. After a 7yr break, where most of the members were working on other solo releases, this is TRM's fourth release and first release on The Richter Collective label. Its a great, energetic and pumping album with lots of mathy breaks, twists and turns. i will try and post their back catalogue: Thirtysixstrings, Cut Your Heart Off From Your Head and I Am Brazil if there is any interest.

Get your dancing shoes on and enjoy!

BANDCAMP - all albums are streaming here!
DOWNLOAD

i couldnt resist...great vid!

A.M. Overcast - Shepherd Moon (2011)

It should be noted right off the bat that if someone told me Rob Crow was involved with this that I wouldn't be at all surprised. Thats high praise in my book by the way. Alexander Litinsky takes that style of Math Pop as a framework for his own frenetic solo work and amps up the time changes and catchy vox. Boy Girl harmonies? yes please! Handclaps in multiple songs? MORE SIR MORE! For the style it doesn't get any better for goodness sake. There is just not enough of this kind of jazzed up complex pop going on today (as of writting this I've made it through 4 runs. not counting the album before this one ;) If you need a change up of the same old same old then this will spearmint your music bad breath into next year... or something.

Shepherd Moon (2011)

Elzhi and Will Session- Elmatic (2011)

My friend Greg recommend this album to me months ago, but it was completely lost in a long list of "notes" on my phone full of music recommendations from many different people and kept in a very unorganized manner. Once again, I do not know much about this album: I know that is a solo album by eLZhi, a slick former member of Slum Village; I know that it is a re-imagining of Nas' debut album, Illmatic (much as Rise Above is a remake of Black Flags Damaged); and I know that it is produced by someone named Will Sessions. Hopefully I do not come off as a jackass for not knowing who he, or they, are; it seems as though a lot of the time, things end up that way with me.

Its no matter. This is some truly outstanding hiphop. Excellent production, awesome instrumentation, great flows... what more can you ask for? Check it: track 3 off Elmatic, Halftime:



elmatic

Your Protected - EP

Why aren't you listening to this right this instant?  Well I'd like to give the always mighty and powerful Siren Sound large ups on this one. Completely blind sided by this one. At its core this is some hammers to the floor big post-rock.  What will hit you first is everything is loud and trying to kill you. math rock, progressive rock and metal  abound as well as some nice ambient textures thrown in. Technical without having noses high in the air. Rock Solid

Your Protected

Mr. Maps

WHY ISN'T ANYONE TALKING ABOUT THESE GUYS?!

Mr. Maps are an Australian instrumental band that focuses on some sort of orchestral math rock lite.  Highly calculated and expertly produced, this is an excellent release that gives just as much room for piano and stringed instruments as the usual rock arsenal.  A pretty unique release as far as im concerned in the realm of odd timed flim flam.

Wire Empire (2011)

Noxious Foxes - Legs (2011)

 Instrumental Math Loopers from Brooklyn NY. Surprising sense of melody with songs that are so rhythmically interesting.  Excellent use of pedals where it doesn't feel like your getting pummeled  over the head with odd noises for heavens sake. Technical without drawing too much attention. Super amazing stuff. 


Legs (2011)

Monomer- Ranger Wars (2011)

I just reunited with a childhood friend who I had lost contact with many years ago; in that time he went to Berklee and learned some fucking tricks. Acey, check this shit immediately; It is so completely your thing, and everyone here at the Swords for that matter; legit videogame soundtrack action. Immediate download.

A Troop of Echoes-Tour Starts 1/4/12!

Just wanted to add a quick bumpity bump to restate that starting tomorrow, January 4th, our fellow ninja FranklinDCs group A Troop of Echoes is kicking off their tour at Precinct in boston; metaghost and i will be going, and hope to see some more of you Swords folks at the show. They'll be touring all over the northeast, so get ready to rock out to some sick tunes. Heres a neat video for their song Little Bird off their 2010 album Days in Automation, and again tour dates below:



4 Boston, MA - Precinct (w/ Zvoov, Strange Mangers)
12 Baltimore, MD - Charm City Art Space (w/ Fires, Sea Patterns)
13 Greenville, NC - The Tipsy Teapot
14 Charlotte, NC - The Common Market (w/ David Cox)
15 Columbia, SC - Conundrum Music Hall (w/ Pan)
16 Nashville, TN - Exit / In (w/ Call it Anything, Chris West’s Junkyard Horns)
17 New Orleans, LA - Hi-Ho Lounge (w/ Autotomii)
18 Athens, GA - Go Bar (w/ Sleep Dance)
19 Charleston, SC - Village Tavern
20 Baltimore, MD - Sidebar Tavern (w/ Zvoov, Time Columns)

Audiocæneat! - Red Sessions (2011)

Post-rock can be a tricksy beast. It is often a  downright boring and formulaic genre affair (as anything can be) But when you are distilling many different genres down the roots system you've gotta have your weapon enchanted with just the right amount of elemental forces to stand ahead.  This brings us to Audiocæneat! from Germany who play a classic post-rock (think epic guitars) pounding drums, some great structure and shoegaze thrown in to flesh out the proceedings.  What I can and always do give props to is the attention of production, everything is in your face and crystal. Also if you think that this is your grandpas old post rock with down time they remain always interesting. Do I hear some metal influence in those guitars? You bet your bottom. These guys put a lot of the main streamers to shame. So what does that mean for you? it means clickity below fellow's.

Red Sessions (2011)