Plini - Other Things (2012)

 

Plini is a solo project based out of Sydney, Australia. Plini offers to us an amazing three track EP, showcasing an amazingly atmospheric jazz fusion/post-rock/djent sound. The third track, Selenium Forest, while less jazz influenced, is still absolutely amazing (perhaps even the best track on the EP). If you are looking for something a little different (albeit excellent!), give this a shot. I promise you won't think twice about listening to it more than once.

Check 'em out on Facebook and Bandcamp.

Other Things

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

Your Protected - EP

Why aren't you listening to this right this instant?  Well I'd like to give the always mighty and powerful Siren Sound large ups on this one. Completely blind sided by this one. At its core this is some hammers to the floor big post-rock.  What will hit you first is everything is loud and trying to kill you. math rock, progressive rock and metal  abound as well as some nice ambient textures thrown in. Technical without having noses high in the air. Rock Solid

Your Protected

Cyclamen - Senjyu (2010)

As is often the case, I don't know too much about these guys, but I first heard some of their tracks via Travis Orbin who had posted some videos of him recording drums to a couple tracks off this record. The band itself appears to primarily be a studio project for Hayato Imanishi, as he composes the material independently and then gathers various musicians to perform whatever instrumentation he doesn't feel like performing. Overall, the sound encompasses elements of post-hardcore, metal, and math-rock in a very polished form, with plenty of technical flourishes and half-time breakdowns, reminding me at times of equal parts Envy and Meshuggah. Definitely worth a listen if you enjoy harsh screams, chuggity-chugs, and twisting polyrhythms.

You can explore their entire catalog at their Bandcamp: Cyclamen

Jaga Jazzist - One Armed Bandit (2010)

A Norwegian jazz ensemble that has a clear passion for electro-jazz kings Tortoise. They even have a small obsession with the vibraphone like Tortoise does! This of course can be excused instantly as the vibraphone is awesome. But thats really only a launching point for this adventurous young band who have been honing their craft over several releases. Their latest (and best in my opinion) has some very real proggy proggings . They of course have always flirted with such progressive trappings on previous releases but here the flag is waving high and proud. I enjoy the upbeat nature of the songs with different instruments being used almost at random.  For those of you that are not super into Jazz well I'd even say that this is for you also as it could be considered post rock as well.


One Armed Bandit (2010)

Wires Under Tension - Light Science

Trust that this is good. That it sounds like a train full of awesome live drums hit an elctronic dragon spewing samples as a violin careens in and out of the ensuing mayhem. So yea what you were going to say. Also as a side note why doesn't all electronic music use live drums? I mean why wouldn't you? Cant play to a click track brah?  Wires Under Tension do it exactly how it should always be done.

Light Science

Macha - See It Another Way

90's indie rock that tends to get lumped into the slowcore camp with arguably the kings of the genre Bedhead due to a wonderful split between the two.  Athens Georgia's own Macha however hold an exciting "one up"  over bands of the time using a lot of Gamelan instruments to blanket their searing indie rock. Thats right a junk load of drums, nipple gongs, bamboo flutes and my personal favorite the dulcimer, give Macha a stand out style that I can not say I've ever heard done before.  While later albums would find Macha shifting the balance of their music (even incorporating dance elements) it still works. See it Another Way I believe to be an excellent start to an often over looked band.

See it Another Way

Rosolina Mar - Before and After Dinner (2006)

Italian 3 piece instrumental rock outfit. Its nice to hear a group cribbing more from classic rock and injecting it with an amazing amount of riff creativity for the style. Whats great about these guys is that the guitarists are not afraid to incorporate solo like riffs into a song either and everything flows from one point to another without question. You'll even catch yourself getting parts locked into your skull. Truthfully there is a little bit of something for everyone in here. Do it for yourself.










Rosolina Mar - Before and After Dinner bandcamp

Maserati - Pyramid of the Sun

Its almost fitting that this Athens, Georgia group has finally created their masterpiece. After Jerry Fuchs tragic death the band decided to finish what they had started. Pyramids of the Sun doesn't exactly find the group mining new territory but laser etching what they have been building for several releases. By this groups standards this is a sprint of a release as far as run time. It plays to the strength of the songs structurally and never becomes stale as a result. You can throw out words like "post-psych" but truthfully this is some driving full on rock. Will be interesting to see what the rest of the group decide.
 
Maserati - Pyramid of the Sun (2010)