Steak and Cake Records

Hey guy/gal's just wanted to stop in and cast a light on some really wonderful music being created up north. A friend of mine (Brandon Schlia) runs a pretty boss record label in Buffalo NY called Steak and Cake Records. He's got a pretty wide base of groups and music featuring a lot of indie pop, alternative rock and some bent pop sensibilities.  Trust me that its worth the time to sit down and sift through whats going down. I understand that there isn't time shifting blah blah going down but props need to be dropped where its due. Heres a few things to get you started on your journey.

Inquiring Minds
The New York Breakfast
_________________

Steak and Cake Records

Facebook

Kit Fisto - II (2011)

Math Rock can be taken in more directions than one would think. Not to say that this particular brand gets snubbed but the straight up party math rock tends to be made to DD the night of the big shindig.  Kit Fisto exist in a realm where metal, alternative rock and tap happy math pump their collective fists in the air. The sense of enjoyment from these guys is just extremely in your face. Did I mention their from Florida? Sounds about right. Whenever I listen to them I half expect them to break into some Chon style riffage and at times they come close however they always reign it back in. If these guys can harness more of whats going on in these three songs, up the very welcome vocals that sneak their way in, possibly kick up BPM's a titch  we will have a dangerously amazing little LP on our hands. Excited to see what a next time bring's.

II

Pensioner - Yearlings (2011)

Pensioner from Scotland certainly have caught my attention and others as well. At the base they are a post-hardcore/math rock hybrid that seems to have more fun jamming as many awesome ideas into a song as they can. Vocals are also deliciously present. Here lies a problem with most bands that do employ vocals they tend to play second fiddle...not so here at all. An Incredibly solid release with nothing too technical but some herky jerk rhythms get thrown in out of left field. It keeps you on your feet and you'll frequently be surprised by some of the structural choices going on. Don't worry no surprise gangster rap outro.

I guess you could say its just a really sweet and inspired rock album that is as vocal centric as guitar led. Which I think more bands should try to follow. Here that other bands?

Yearlings (2011)

PLOKK - A + B

PLOKK are a 5 piece from Hamburg. (EDIT: 3 piece ((even more impressive)) )
PLOKK are freaking amazing

Just listen to the facts. This is a franken beast that makes so much sense when you hear it.  Depending on the moment you might catch them in the middle of some kind of quasi dissonant guitar battle that sounds like its about to fall  apart. Two seconds later you could be thrashing to an all out alternative metal  riff. It never turns out sounding at odds with itself though and flows organically on its way. The band itself says "intelligent krautrock" which I suppose you could tack in there.  A better idea as far as other bands go would be a more disjointed and less jazzy version of Fago. Sepia, a wonderful comparison in my opinion. So i know i must say this a lot but if you enjoy math rock in any of its aspects this is not something you can pass by. Don't even think about it.

A + B