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

Tommy Boys - Demo

Look familiar?

Well it should. I briefly covered these cats back in January when they only had one song to speak of. I do think that they deserve a much deeper look as it is painfully obvious that these guys once something official gets dropped.....its going to be good times for all. The chops are there as well as the killer song writing. In need of a well placed and tight math rock turn? theres about 70 in every song. Forced? no not at all everything sounds fluid like a river and the riffs are pretty catchy as well. If your going to reach into the comparison's basket then you could say a more energetic and twisty Ghosts and Vodka with more of a punky vibe running through. For those that don't know Ghosts and Vodka, I suggest going to drink some vodka. Sound's like a damn fine combo if I've ever heard. They do now have a song with vocals and its just as excellent as the instrumental stuff. I need a bat signal or a beeper specifically for when new stuff by these guys comes out. I need it that badly.

Antlers

First post in awhile and it's a bit of an older one (my fellow swordsman have a habit of beating me to the punch on the newer stuff). Initially came across this DC band when I spotted their 2008 s/t on yellow/white vinyl for under $10 and took a gamble (I'm a sucker for colored LPs) but I was pleasantly surprised at the vintage math rock sound this album contains. Slinky guitars, tight drumming and enough twists and turns throughout to keep things interesting across eight tracks curiously named after a different kind of tree.

Until writing this, I thought they had all but disappeared but their bandcamp has 2 newer releases, a similar sounding EP called "Kosmische Cat" and a their latest LP "2607 Space Godz" which sounds like they decided to drop acid and forge a new sound. Won't rush judgement just yet but I stand by their eponymous debut, check er out.

RIYL: Faraquet, Ghosts and Vodka, Don Caballero



BNDCMP

Owls - Owls

So the time line is as such. In keeping with my loose theme of Victor Villarreal related projects we are brought to Owls. This venture occured after his work with Ghosts and Vodka and features the original full line up of Cap. N Jazz members (minus Davey Von Bohlen). As we have Tim Kinsella in control of vocals and lyrics you know to expect crazy cryptic lines and semi out of tune warbling....its an acquired taste to be sure.  What is sure is the fact that instrumentally these guys are on point tearing into these songs. Like some sort of emo angular math lounge music its not really as odd as it sounds. Fun point of reference also is Ryan Rapsys from Noyes was also the Owls second drummer. Wasn't aware of that myself till just recently.

OWLS

Ghosts and Vodka

If you want to talk about what the hell these current instrumental math bands are listening to you can more often than not draw a direct line to these gentlemen. Ghosts and Vodka is a mix mixture of two well known groups Joan of Arc and Cap'n Jazz. To say that this album is influential for the genre would be an understatement. Japanese band Toe in an interview once said they initially formed to play music like Ghosts and Vodka. Lets not even start on Victor Villareal's guitar style, we could be here all day. The music itself is incredibly dynamic and rhythmically complex but with a great sense of melody to back it up. Both Guitarists, Villareal and  Sam Zurick would go on to rejoin there Cap'n Jazz band mates for a new group called Owls. If you haven't your missing out.

Addicts and Drunks