Sleep For The Nightlife - Minimalist Cities (2014)

This was one of my most anticipated albums of 2014. After seeing them a few years ago I was not fully ready for what this 4 man Toronto based group was about to bring.  I am not alone in this anxious feeling either, but I feel it imperative to bring these guys the attention in the community they richly deserve.

Ambient in the way atmosphere is set and mathy in a restrained and respectful manner. Instrumental pieces that are smartly constructed with no extra relationship baggage. This is real deal total investment Math-tastic Post-Rock.

These cats never leave you hanging and if they are laying down a riff that warrants it, they stick around so you can soak up the joy. If you want to talk math rock brass than technically speaking you've got the twists you desperately crave.  The hooks for me however lie in the relationship of the expertly laid melodies and the brain melting kit work. There are so many moments on this record that literally give me goosebumps its like RL Stine was sitting behind me the entire time....that was bad apologies. The back half of "Underwater Panthers"? forget about it, ridiculous tension and release tactics that are almost too clever.

Are we talking wheel reinvention? nah. but you'll never concern yourselves with such trifles because this is a distillation of Ghosts and Vodka type activity of the highest order and dare I say with some more impressive song variation.  You are a fool if you don't surrender your ears this instant to this the first masterwork of 2014.

Can I say again that these drums are just nasty?
Jesus Christmas

SLEEP FOR THE NIGHTLIFE

Tell them via facebook how much they own the streets

Luo - In the Dark

First of all let me be the first to say "Thank you and welcome back Computer Jones" our frequent poster from across the pond. We have been missing your mathalogical insight's hehe.

Second off my my my I have to say its been a hot minute since a song/video has moved me as much as this one by Luo. This is a full band version of what is essentially experimental producer Josh Trinnaman who has released some incredibly solid glitch, hop, math, jazz blender love.  This live version gives it a certain post rock feel and ups the emotion to a power level of over 9000! truly you must check this out even just for those skillfully wielded drums.

Luo - In the Dark (Live Session) (SWEET FANCY ITS GOOD)

Luo Bandcamp

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Facing - October (2013)

**(Throws Hands Up in Jubilation***

You could honestly dice this track up and make almost make an entire amazing album. It is a lot of differing styles but done so correctly that they blend like they were always meant to sit next to each other at the dinner table....and what a god damn spread it is! I'm not going to divulge exactly how its set up because I feel like that ruins the fun a bit on this one. As you may know I'm not a large fan of posting one track bizz unless it really is worthy. Trust that this is something everyone should be listening to and on the lookout for more. A Dublin based artist that has a bright future ahead surely, best new music I've heard in a minute.

I dare you to only listen to this once :)

FACING

Renaissance Sound - II

There are moments that you hang to in complete anticipation.  The wait of what will be...or not. This was that album for me.

After their first album Renaissance Sound had left me with the hope of the future. Their self-titled really struck a chord with me about the boundaries of truly what math rock could be. To me..it was something that I had been waiting to run into through my years of searching. A group that could take jazz structures and heart but could still infuse that with the energy and sensibilities of math rock.

Which brings us to the second release, II. While I didn't expect ground breaking progression there are areas where I can safely say this improves upon the formula they've laid. It is clearly apparent that this group has only become tighter this time around. Compositions are practically teaming with twists and turns. While their first effort was a bit more relaxed this is a Renaissance Sound completely restless with creativity. Speed is certainly one of the areas that has been ramped up considerably. Instrumentally everyone has brought their A game (shocker) but im going to go out on a limb and say MVP for this one is the bassist. Ridiculous Ridiculous run's are everywhere on this beast. As well to say that some of the more memorable moments come from his melodic phrasing.

Enough analyzing really...because this is a solid gold hit right here. Its going to be a difficult one to unseat for me this year, just like last year. I'm relieved that they have taken their proven methods, expanded upon them and given us an incredibly dense jazz math rock record for our first quarter of 2013.

Stunner. All Around.

ii

Father Figure - Congratulations On Your Loss (2012)

A strong jazz back bone is what some the greatest math rock groups utilize to incorporate more interesting rhythms and strengthen their structures, Father Figure are a prime example. New City NY should be proud to have such a dynamic group on their hands truly. Synthesizing every genre we are used to seeing as far as more technical rock goes (math rock, prog rock, jazz ) into a package that will have you fist pumping and silently congratulating them in your head on their excellent choices in all ways. These master chefs have clearly trimmed the fat on their release because it would be hard for me to point to any place where I wasn't smiling ear to ear. Wow, just do yourselves a massive favor and jump right in you will not be sorry.


for your health

POSTMADONNA

http://postmadonna.bandcamp.com/album/introducing-postmadonna


see that link above? click, listen, and love it.

yours
Acerola

The Grand Rapid City Lipdub 2011

it is blowing up real fast since memorial day weekend, but im not sure how many of you swords dudes had seen the craziness that is the grand rapids lip dub. I know I hadnt until earlier today when i heard about it on NPR. The story went that recently, a list came out of the Top Cities in Fast Decline, and Rapid City was near the top of the list. The citizens of Rapid City said fuck that, and a local filmmaker gathered $40,000 and the support of the city to put together the most intense, single shot lipdub video of all time. And this didnt just reach to the citizens of the city; the government was involved, as well as local police and firefighters, business owners, artists, nerf gun enthusiasts, etc. Everyone represented themselves to unite and give a big FUCK YOU to the world that saw them in decline.

And i mentioned, it is a single shot; 10 minutes long, and one continuous shot of so many crazily arranged things. The undertaking of this project was a daunting idea, but holy shit did they pull it off. Not to mention the nurf gun fight on the bridge all Braveheart style.