Old Head - Stained Glass Stilts (2015)

Old Head? New Head? Heady Head?

Hmmm well it had been posted on our facebook page awhile back and i saw it sitting in the ever awesome math rock reddit community.. must be a sign I suppose.  

So where do we start? Its a methodical take on math for sure...dare i say...F O L K ...ish? I do like that it doesn't falls into clear tropes (incessant tapping ect) 

At least guitar wise I feel this throw back folk picking. As for the drums and bass well they are ramping it up off a cliff. Tasteful bass runs and some fun drum licks. At necessary times restrained when things get moody slow for your girl....or guy. Keyboard as well I've found when done correctly fleshes out even the most chaotic of math. I really enjoy this i guess is what im getting at. Solid mix inside and out of the head phones. Philly based, should make their way upstate way for sure.

North End - Cognoscere (2013)

Philadelphia high energy mathy post rock — exactly how I need my post rock (i.e. not a high E string workout). This here is one track off of an upcoming full album and it is certainly busy and interesting enough for me to want more and by extension you too will be wanting more.

Arc and Sender - S/T (2005)

Arc and Sender play dark, contemplative, math rock that heaves through atmospheric passages punctuated by huge riffs.  The format of drums, bass, and baritone guitar is accompanied on a few tracks by violin and saxophone for extra spiciness.  The compositions are sprawling.  I usually prefer the songwriting to be a little tighter, but in this case everything is so heavy that too many changes might sound strange.

This band is relatively unknown, at least as far as I can tell.  They started off as a studio project, released an album, played a few shows, then faded from existence.  For such a short band lifetime, the quality of the product is excellent.  We were super lucky to play with them at a DIY joint in Baltimore in 2008.  They slayed.  I believe that this was their final show. 

Check out "WWJLD" (What Would Jesus Lizard Do) on their Myspace, then download their self-titled debut album here:

Arc and Sender - S/T (2005)