Mueble - La Gente Vuela En Pan Lactal (2012)

Post rock math from Buenos Aires. Not going to set your night on fire with originality but hey its pretty solid stuff all the same.


mueble

Grand Beach - May Long (2012)

Lets face the facts that we are just in a holding pattern for one of Alexander Litinsky's math rock projects to explode. Name not familiar? Shameful. Alex is AM Overcast and has just recently released the very excellent math pop gem "Pellow" Thats it you say? NAY Alex also plays in the more "formal" math rock demons L'viv. So along with these two projects we also have a short EP going by the name of Grand Beach who are poised to release a brand new banger on our faces this upcoming new year.

Its a bit similar to AM in its approach to math but has more of a collaborative feel (obviously) these two tracks from 2012 are great but I think we can bank on the fact that its going to be a scorcher. Alex is possibly the best artist going right now that can hold the pop influences close while still laying down massive time shifts and great riffage. If your interested in hearing some more personal aspects one of our members also recently sat down with Alex. Keep your eyes peeled for this danger cat.

GB

Memória de Peixe - 7/4 (2012)

A looping pedal isn't an automatic slam dunk into math rock glory. But in the case of  Memória de Peixe from Portugal this duo get the job done with some highly inspired on the fly looping. To me the key to perfect use is "if I dont know your using it then you win" This is a hot track for sure and would love to hear more.

7/4

Stereo Type - Tokyo Blue (2012)

Incredibly solid Japanese instrumental post-rock math. What you can always count on with anything in this vein is that it's never boring. Awesome bass lines, intricate drumming, and memorable guitar lines. Regrettably I seemed to have glossed over this from last year... sad face. If it doesn't grab you immediately, stick with it — it has surprises buried just beneath the surface. You have my personal assurance as a man of the math.

If I Look Strong; You Look Strong - if i look strong; you look strong (2012)

Been holding this gem pretty close to my belt. Coming from Canada and largely a solo project of one Noah Michael this beast is restless. In some ways this project is like some kind of alternate dimension version of AM Overcast. I say this because both groups have a preoccupation with math-pop and pop-punk.  Not only that but each group has solid grasp on song length (ie short) So why exactly are we here then? to re-hash? not here at the swords. The divergent qualities are what truly make IILS:YLS shine in my opinion. Experimental, noisey, break neck turns and occasionally throw in some heavy break downs.  Mixing these elements in with math-pop shouldn't work but like I said short song lengths and incredible execution keeps the flags flying high. Wonderful stuff.

Kawri's Whisper - EP (2012)

Hailing from St. Petersburg Russia, Kawri's Whisper demonstrates an incredible understanding of balance. That is to say between completely indulging in prog excess and time shifting math rock. It's a pretty fair cut down the middle and done with the right amount of heart that shines through. Instrumental in nature as well there is atmosphere built from song to song. It looks as though via there facebook page that they have some newer stuff on the horizon because this EP is just the first few bites of a meal I need to finish. Really enjoying this.

kawriswhisper

Sajjanu - Californication II (2012)

Previously on PoS (yes we are all aware of that usually stands for )

So a reader has informed me that thanks to a successful bout of badgering the group Sajjanu posted their follow up record on bandcamp from 2012. Why is this amazing? well if you are familiar the question has already been answered (they are math rock demons). But for those not in the know certainly click the link above to DL some real meaty math. I have to say this is more compositionally rich than their first effort and less chaotic but a hell of a lot more focused. Sajjanu still stand as one of the busiest and most technical of the Japanese math rock groups. That is along with the amazing Nuito. So if anyone wants to get on those guys for a new album thatd be great as well.

Sajjanu

How to Count One to Ten - Blue Building Blocks (2012)

Better late than never right?
2012 seems like a distant memory but I have plenty of hold over groups I just have not gotten to covering yet. Case in point is this fantastic Japanese group "How to Count One to Ten". Crisp and clean instrumental post-rock with some great interlocking rhythms. Some math rock love is yes implied within that last statement so no fretting yall.

If you're looking for twinkly slow plodding build up's you unfortunately are at the wrong blog and band for that matter. The melodies can get a little pastoral and nostalgic but we are all about that. A lot of the Japanese groups seem to have some kind of lock down on that kind of thing anyway. Yet again no skipping out on this guys and galls. must.

HIMSELF - SELFLESS (2012)

Just posted a track off this on the Facebook page and decided it wasn't fair for everyone not to fully enjoy this wonderful noise. UK based alt rock math with spoken word sing songy vocals?? 

Honestly there have been some rumblings on these guys around the interwebs and have been a little surprised to not see more. The vocal style is a little ugh how should i say "gonzo"  while not being annoying and adds a nice bit of personality. Not horribly mathy but progressive never the less. these guys can bring the party down to a really tense chill level and raise up some heavy crushing riffs. Certainly to be checked out.

Plini - Other Things (2012)

 

Plini is a solo project based out of Sydney, Australia. Plini offers to us an amazing three track EP, showcasing an amazingly atmospheric jazz fusion/post-rock/djent sound. The third track, Selenium Forest, while less jazz influenced, is still absolutely amazing (perhaps even the best track on the EP). If you are looking for something a little different (albeit excellent!), give this a shot. I promise you won't think twice about listening to it more than once.

Check 'em out on Facebook and Bandcamp.

Other Things

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

TK - Flower (from the Album Flowering)

I'm thinking about starting a video thing every now and again of awesome math rock that I cant find proper on the tube.

This is the solo work of TK the guitarist of Ling Tosite Sigure.  It is a bit like LTS but more personal and ambient while keeping the same frantic math rock nature.

No Metal in this Battle - Demo (2012)

Greetings a salutations Math heads I have been spending some quality time posting on the FANTASTIC math rock reddit page and highly recommend anyone unfamiliar to head over and give er a gander. 

Any who No Metal in this Battle are a four piece that hail from Luxemburg. Their style is post rock in structure with the jazz and math butted up alongside. To be honest I was not crazy about the first song and while its perfectly serviceable for what it is....eh just not enough to put over the edge.

The second song on the demo however struck me square center with all the emotional and instrument power I need. So its worth the listen truly even just for the second song. I am interested in what direction these guys will go but for now I've been stuck on this song :)

nometal

Marylin-Rambo - Baleine à Nourrir (2012)

A promising French duo that doesn't fall into the typical pit falls of hard rock duo's. Metal, Math, Punk and good old fashioned RockNRoll blenderized for your listening pleasure.

marylin-rambo

Monsters of the Antipodes - Houses (2012)

A Progressive math rock group from Baltimore with some pretty inspired riffage. Lots of complexity here for those who crave yet a mature sense of restraint and pacing that lends itself to post-rock style and structure.

Let me say that Mr. Greg Lewis must be a busy and talented man because this is the THIRD project by him that I have been highly impressed with. The first being his atmospheric prog lite rock group as previously talked about ( dedleaves ) Certainly not to take away from the other players but the guitar playing is on center stage here. Stripped away of a lot of the pedal flim flam of dedleaves and a focus on rhythms.

This was actually a fairly recent submission but I had already been enjoying for a couple weeks. Also a little sad that I missed this in 2012.

the root and the basilisk is Greg's solo acoustic based venture and also should be given proper up's as an incredible release of progressive solo work. So please check all three because I can promise you will not be sorry

AT ALL! BOOM!

HOUSES

Couteaux - Sail West to Reach The East (2012)

There is just something so beautiful to me about the mix of post-hardcore with math rock. Consider adding in the mix some POP hooks and strong vocals...and...well you've got a group ready for just about anything.

Couteaux seem perfectly at home melting these riff heavy gems around a metal and post rock center. But talk is talk folks and the proof is certainly in this pudding. If its sounding great to you on paper I can assure you that you wont be let down by these guys in the least.

Ridiculous

couteaux

Red Red Run - Roommates (2012)

Another 2012 hold over 

sadly only one track

however an incredibly solid one at that. 

completely restless instrumental math rock.

some nice pedal work. tid bit of post rock elements as well

More please?

redredrun

Sparhawks - Demo 2012

Some pretty refreshing instrumental post-rock musics going down. Mathy? eh not as much as id like but certainly some smatterings here and there.

 

Boston group Sparhawks have a familiar sound sure, but that doesn't take away from the fact that songs always have an incredible honesty. Not only that but its a lot of fun. Throw in some pretty sensational drumming moments and varied guitar atmosphere and thats a recipe for some solid ass rock music. 

 

Like I said this is familiar territory for a lot of groups....but to see this young group succeeding on all cylinders makes me that much more excited to see whats in store for the full length. Good Stuff.

sparhawk

An Aesthetic Anaesthetic - Names (2012)

This Chicago group has some riffs to share. What kind? some post-metal for sure with

progressive rock structures and our very favorite math rock veneer over top. It makes for some really nice distorted instrumental rock with that right amount of attitude. I have to say that if a passages is moving a bit slow for ya just relax because these guys move through influences in the span of a song. Your always bound to come out on the other end with at least a couple awesome things. Will be very interested to see what they have in store next for our ears.

names (2012)

Hooting Everywhere - Horse Parking (2012)

There are many things I am a large sucker for. 

One man math rock projects rate right up there

Hooting Everywhere is the work of one Devin Powers and as it states on the bandcamp

"Music written in the style of 90s indie emo."

So grease the gears on the time machine because this is going to take you back. Really well done obviously or we wouldn't all be here gathered around the ugh er interweb. Some mathy guitar's I would say though but if the words 90's or emo perked your ears then this is for you.  

Hooting Everywhere (2012)