That's Rugby - Wide Eyed (2012)

Incubus and Minus the Bear are throwing a pool party and thing's get a little "progressive rock" if you know what I mean. So in a nutshell this is what you're in for. Sound good? yea its pretty aces.

BANDCAMP

mike.curtin - Indecisive Euphoria (2012)

Ok so Darren at New Noise Archives posted this fine piece of math up the other day. Which before I get any further, people should go there and check his blog out. He clearly puts time and effort into finding these bands, its good stuff.

Anywho Mike Curtin solo math rock stuff that is truly the voice of one man. Excellent production values and some really awesome structural progressions. Some electronic elements but this is math rock at its finest. Mark my words just one of those albums that should be getting major major props for sticking its neck out in places. You will not be ashamed when you bring this philly home, she's a beaut.

indecisive-euphoria

Grand Piano - $1000 (2012)

We know you enjoy the math but what about blues? country?  Alright I'm not throwing something totally off course here but listen this stuff is very much in love with those throw back styles. Yes they do manage to incorporate some sprightly guitar lines and interesting song structures. Some songs are decidedly more blues rock and others not so much. It is however still a very interesting and enjoyable listen. Very fitting vocals if I do say so myself.

$1000

Cartel Carnage - Incorporated (2012)

**You walk into a bar**

Classic metal is having an arm wrestling contest in the corner with Progressive rock....typical.

Front and center grabbing drinks of course is ol' drinking buddies J. Zorn and Mike P.

I did notice upon entering as well the atypical choice of music the DJ was playing...some sort of free jazz.

Interesting stuff here at the "Cartel Carnage"

Incorporated

Rara Avis - III (2012)

I am a large sucker for acoustic guitars...I know I have possibly said this in other posts but I really mean that with all my heart. This here Rara Avis should be the night cap to every single day of your life. Acoustic guitar duo that melts down a bit of folk conventions with spanish guitar and yes some light little mathy turns.  It's just straight up gorgeous stuff. Spread it on your ears then spread it to those around you.

III (2012) 

Pneu - Highway to Health (2011)

Frantic, crazy, heavy chaos with some serious riffs, Pneu is 2 dudes from France who can play the shit out of their instruments. Really glad they had this album done by Kurt Ballou who just turns everything to gold. Really heavy gold.  A French hardcore/punk version of Hella, they are by far a worthy listen.

BNDCMP

HTH

Our Brother The Native - Vows (2011)

Perhaps a little off the beaten path but grab your favorite walking staves and I will show you something that you will really enjoy.

Our Brother The Native appears to be the bulk responsibility of one Joshua Bertam hailing from Ann Arbour Michigan. A rotating cast of players help flesh out the rest.

Ambient yet busy with a strong pop sense. Group vocals play a large roll as well as a heavy percussion aspect. Structurally songs take twists and turns like a frantic orchestra. Instruments fly in and out oboe, strings, guitar who the hell knows half the time. Amidst this growing business there is a electronic glitch component that skews the proceedings even further with a cavalcade of samples. So what we get essentially is progressive baroque glitch pop? Now if I was just reading that I would say "well I need to hear what the hell that sounds like" You really should. This is some carefully crafted enjoyable musics right here.

Vows (2011)

Cleft - Whale Bone (2012)

Off the path for a bit but I'm back on it to shell out the amazing Duo that is Cleft.

This is not your ordinary ram and jam rock duo. These gents from Manchester rip shirt up with wide powerful strokes and you will never question their motives. From a songwriting standpoint they can command their way around town surprisingly well for two people. Even when things cool it you'll never find yourself wishing for anything extra. I get a bit of an Adebisis Shank vibe in over all drive and pedal usage but if thats the comparison then props to them. Worthy of an extended ear listen.

whale bone

Healthy Fears - The Dreaded Diamond (2011)

Piano Jazz Folk
Female Vox
Mathy Rhythms
Fairly Complex Drums

Walkin that line hard. Certainly more folk based but some pretty great stuff. bit of a change up. Anything up there sound neato? eh? well give it a shot. Can come across straight forward in places but hey I'm all about grabbing the cat on the limb, what? more coffee? yes please.

The Dreaded Diamond

Victor Villarreal - Invisible Cinema (2012)

Arguable in that Victor is one of the few humans that you can directly sight (among a few chosen others) responsible for the molding of what we have as ...cough ...cough "current math rock"

invis cine

Ruins-alone - Ruins-alone (2011)

Im not the largest fan of going backwards in my observations of this lovely genre. When I do its for a damn good reason.

TATSUYA YOSHIDA

Hopefully at this time you are nodding your heads thinking
"yes Tatsuya from mega amazing Japanese math duo Ruins"

Or perhaps remembering a previous post? 

Anyway I'm done smacking. Check this out.
Jesus this dude loves his Magma.

Ruins Alone

Self-Evident - Endings (2009)

New album out. Clicky the bandcamp link. Back to you CJ...
__________________________

1 litre Don Cab, a dash of Shipping News, half a cup of Faraquet, 34grams Japandi and a sprinkle or two of  Tool or A Perfect Circle maybe?!

Every track on this is a gem. Some great live vids on Youtube too!

A math-rock fav of mine! this album never grows old on me. Can't wait for their new release later this year on the wonderful Stiff Slack Records.

DOWNLOAD
BANDCAMP

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

NEW TOWN PORTAL!!!

....O yes and its so good.


Need me to explain things from Oct. of last year?
Plenty of Swords your knowledge

Wanna Direct Listening Source?
bandcamp that knowledge 

Submission Hold Round Up

Hey fellow math monsters just wanted to drop in and share some of our submissions since I haven't been very current. Also yes that is a picture of moon knight. Does there need to be a reason?

Hymmel - post-rock centered maths with electronic sprinkles. a little three trapped tigers vibe? eh a titch perhaps. these gents hail from Kent and do mix stuff up pretty well. 

Apart - Heavy emotional post hardcore with some nicely structured songs. clean and crisp production is always a plus. wish there was a squeech more effort placed into standing apart from others.

La Bibioteca Deserta - 65 days of static sorta sound but still its own deal. Italian electro alt post rock math. check this out pretty cool stuff.

Arms of Tripoli - Nice and moody post rock instrumental math. Has a strong flow to the structures and good sense of melody.

Cecimonster vs Donka - alternative rock with a pop punk beating heart from Peru. Clear, concise and great energy are all here waiting for you.

Dore Mear Beon - pitter patter math rock with programmed drums. I would guess the work of one person. Pretty chill stuff going on. Would love to hear a full band perform this.

Blind Wives - strong QOTSA driving alt rock. slight rhythmic shake ups. Even a bit poppy as far as vocals go.

Foxing - That Philly noodle guitar scream combo many know and love. These guys are from St. Louis however. the right amount of math style drums get thrown in for added effect.

17 Pygmies - keyboard shoegaze prog lite?? sounds more interesting than it is in real life.

Lord - And lastly ending strong we have Portland Oregon's Lord. I had posted them on our facebook page with their first release and they are back. Pure and lovely progressive rock holding hands with math. it's the good stuff we know and love. check it out extremely well done 2nd effort.

Lumen - The Man Felt An Iron Hand...

The band is Lumen, and the full title of the album is "The Man Felt An Iron Hand Grasp Him By The Hair, At The Nape. Not One Hand, A Hundred Hands Seized Him, Each By The Hair, And Tore Him Head To Foot, The Way You Tear Up A Sheet Of Paper, Into Hundreds Of Little Pieces." 

No, really. The tracks are named simply by roman numerals. Instrumental math-folk at its very best. III is a highlight. A once off project released via Temporary Residence Records.

This San Francisco band featuring members of A Minor Forest and Tarentel crafts hard-to-categorize instrumental stuff. One part exotic film score, one part poignant circus music, one part cerebral guitar experimentalism, one part powerful prog-derived rhythms, all woven into a heady, otherworldly whole.

DOWNLOAD 

Colditz Glider - Properties of Light EP

An oldie but goodie (relatively speaking), this is the sole release from the now defunct 4-piece from Melbourne which is a shame because this is an ace release. Released back in 2004, it rides that post-rock/math-rock line without being boring, the songs don't overstay their welcome, in fact they leave you wanting more. Has a playful atmosphere to it, with good use of space and dynamics to let you come down and enjoy the section you just heard before another one comes out of nowhere. Be sure to give this one a listen.

CLICK. LISTEN.

Happy Labor Day!

Gastric Band - Party Feel (2012)

Get wise to this serious noise dear fellows and fellettes. Glasgow based group release their first effort and I can say this with some certainty that...wait for it....

THIS IS PRETTY GOD DAMN ORIGINAL.

Why the expletive? well just give me a moment of your time. It may be a bit hasty to call this fantastic group Math Rock. I suppose it fits on the surface , but this is very much a progressive rock affair with some axis shifting rhythms. MORE ABOUT THESE RHYTHMS! yea these cats are clearly in some island nations coping world music vibes. Krautrock is maybe another genre identifier we could throw in as far as the repetitive shifts in the songwriting. Did I mention the awesome rhythms? 

Stop reading
Listen
Smile
Listen some more
Smile Bigger

Bandcamp AWAY!

Duck. Little Brother, Duck! - Don't Take Our Filth Away (2012)

Hey Kitties.  Its been long enough since these Portland natives have carved post hardcore math out of the earth like enchanted golems.  If your not "in the know" to them I suggest you allow us to enlighten your mind and expand your consciousness....now


Anywho yes this means new Duck. Little Brother, Duck! is here. and from my first few cursory listens I'd say this is going to be one hell of a release.

Don't Take Our Filth Away

Dear Human

If you missed them the first go around then heres your chance to look into Texas based Dear Human. Yes sadly they called it quits last year but that should not deter you from enjoying this grand bit of time bending.

Yes they've got your dual guitar attack with a fair bit of original riffage to keep the kids interested but what ends up hitting you in the jaw right away into the fight are the drums. Specifically the double bass. It can be a fickle mistress and if used improperly (or too excessively) can turn your once great band into a sloppy cram jam of blast beats. Kit man Casey Nalley reigns it in when need and keeps it generally speaking tasteful but no less impressive. This is something that everyone should be on board for.

bandcamp