Iran Iran - V (2013)

Here's some UK based math right here in the form of four piece group "Iran Iran". They are playing

arctangent fest this year as well. Familiarize yourself with these gentlemen because they throw some great curves in the three songs they have up for display.

IRANIRAN

Quirky Love Interest

Gotta rep that upstate NY lovin. Two piece instrumental math unit Quirky Love Interest are pretty flipping close to dropping what I believe will be an extremely lovely album. There are a few videos floating around on the interwebs of their live stuff which is pretty clutch but this play through by the drummer shows some really cohesive songwriting and inventive riffery. The duo's catch a lot of heat from me but I'm resting easy that Quirky will be forcing me to rethink things a bit.

Death and the Ninth Day - Man Falls Down Well

I have been patiently waiting on this record to come out ever since I first checked these guys out back at the start of the year. Back then they had just the three tracks of this, with another four to follow. Well I can happily say it was worth the wait, as these guys have laid down some epic tunes with some serious instrumentation. Though not purely Math Rock there is plenty here for you to enjoy, with a sound that to me incorporates indie-sounding tech metal, prog, and a healthy dose of math, to name a few of the styles they weave together. At points they sound a bit like Animals as Leaders covering TTNG tunes (well, that's what struck me when I first heard the track hanging houses).

Gaston - What Time Does Your Train Leave Today (2004)

As promised, I am upping this incredible post-rock group from Berlin called Gaston. Some deep jazz roots and an amazing compositional sense run through this album. The best part? The atmosphere that is built around each idea until it seemingly melts away, only to reform. A trait lacking in a lot groups that try to write ambient tunes from a math rock perspective.

What Time Does Your Train Leave Today

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.

Goddamn Jets - All we ever wrote (2001​-​2002)

Some lovely lost maths for yall's from the early 2000's was just uploaded. This is some pretty straight forward three piece instrumental math rock but there are certainly some great moments to be had. Its important to remember also for the time that a majority of math from the early aughts bares the strong influence of the great Don Cab. Absolutely not a bad thing in my opinion. Enjoy!

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

Salvador - Fera Vischer (ep) (2013)

Rio De Janeiro based post rockers Salvador lay down some pretty interesting instrumental math rock I have to say. I wasn't completely sold until I noticed the introduction of some interesting effects and welcome twists to the formula. These slight departures add some well needed personality to the proceedings. I do have to say as well that as the EP progresses the songs seem to only get better and better while ramping up the complexity. Like I said it took a minute to sink into this lovely group but you'll be thankful for doing so. Listen.

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.

The Jezebel Spirit - I Hate it Here (2011)

Been following these guys for a bit kinda waiting for them to drop the big one...sigh. Half of the equation has been fulfilled as they are not together any longer but have this release to speak of. Thankfully its a straight looker. 

Aside from a fairly terrible band name these gents have some impressive pedigree behind them. Parts of "Bearcubbin" and "Duck. Little Brother, Duck!" are represented in this group, so you can only imagine that something good would come of this. 

This is post-rock that doesn't keep its fur lined winter parka on for a moment and yet has a great ambient and atmospheric quality to it. On the flip side there are some great mathy moments but really its a great showing of progressive instrumental post rock. A lot of really stellar ideas this is one not to miss at all.

Why more peeps haven't been slinging this is beyond my comprehension

Splendid.

Blastronaut - EP I: We Were Once Cro​-​Magnon (2013)

Something must be going on in the water up north because we are seeing a huge influx of Canadian groups these days. Me likey. 

Any who this is a Toronto group that play a nice alternative bent instrumental math rock. Side elements are what set these guys apart however. There is this almost 90's sounding noise/metal element in the guitar aesthetic but on the whole there is a lot of interesting noodling for your brain to wrap around. The group description lists "improv" and I suppose in more of a live setting that would be more evident. If they mean theres some guitar solo's....hell yea theres a couple crammed in their and that certainly doesn't slow things down at all. The drums are always a "make it break it" affair for me so it comes as no shock within the first 12 seconds that everything is A-OK. They are just the right amount of complex without getting too heady.  Really enjoying this as you should be too.

Sparhawks - The Cabin (2013)

Last Time! on Lots of Kni.....er ugh PLENTY OF SWORDS!

Boston Based Sparhawks finally drop their first full length and they have three songs up on the bandcamp for a sampler platter. Deff. some more post-rock instrumentals here with slight math flirtations.  Production is top notch as well with a great drum sound. Have to say that I did expect a bit more progress toward some end of things...either more math or more post-rock but balance is still managed here as last time. Not a bad thing at all. The guys have obviously become tighter and are able to pull off some slicker break downs as a result. Check it but out for sure. 

ps. a bit sad they pulled the demo down

sparhawks

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

Pjaro - Why is No One Here (2013)

Pjaro is a two piece with some heart and an impressive amount of chops to match. Mostly instrumental but with the occational addition of tasteful vocals. There is something very familiar about these guys but in a nostalgic way like how classic indie rock gets you. Each song is very much its own animal but while still keeping with their own flavor. From slow burners to some pretty technical speedier fare the more I listen the more I become hooked. This should be on everyones check out list. Well worth your time. 

pjaro

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

Hellekin Mascara - Wanna be Dino (2011)

not a lot of explanation needed.

Italian 

post math

delicious

 

Wanna be Dino (2011) 

dedleaves (2012)

There's something incredibly charming about this 4 piece instrumental group from Baltimore...I dont know if I have hit on it just yet but I am really enjoying this first effort. I wouldn't classify this as math rock but there is plenty of rhythmic complexity for any mathnick to nod in satisfaction. Something that is missing from a good amount of progressive group's such as dedleaves is ATMOSPHERE. These guys have zero problem with that aspect and maybe thats what I can appreciate the most that makes them so special. Each song is structured interestingly as well moving seamlessly into new passages. Which pretty much brings us into the very clear post-rock end of this music.  Incredibly solid album. no duds. Grab this up. Loving it

dedleaves

Babar is Back!

 Its been a couple years since we've see them but they are back in full force. Check out this devastating instrumental math unit if your unfamiliar. 

BC

Year End Round Up (Part 3)

Thrice

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The Parlor Secret  

Bring in the pastoral post-math rock by way of a drum and guitar duo. Really chilled sounds even when the tempo heats up a bit. Is it a coincidence one of these songs is named "My Little Viking"? hmm I'll let you be the judge. 

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Bearded Youth Quest

Provide some serious instrumental math magic. Nice and Energetic vibe's and some solid melodies running through this beast. Be sure to check out their last release as well.  UK based with enough to ground them in some similar style groups while still maintaining their own sound. Golden.

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 Comma

Rock and Roll doused with chain mail of math and helm of indie experimental. Really enjoying these guys lately. Vocals as well are a bit different yet mesh surprisingly well. warning as well your going to have a bit of awesome drumming occurring, watch your faces. 

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Nitkowski

Lovely and disjointed math-prog with a surprisingly decent sense of melody. Interested in Rhythmic changes? yea ugh this is whats up. Never in danger however to come apart at the seems just really impressive songwriting.  Their bandcamp states "No feckin tappin or slappin" fair enough im in. 

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Adults, The Elderly and Children

Math-pop by way of the UK good stuff. I dare you to listen to this and not enjoy. Not a really great dare I know. 

.fin.

  

Macho Muchacho - Eme Eme (2012)

Tap-happy frenetic music from Ecuador with no words and even more notes. A lot packed into this brief EP but there are some good melodies going on here as well. Hope to see more from these guys in the future. 

BNDCMP

DWNLD