Laddio Bolocko - The Life and Times of Laddio Bolocko

    Close in sound to groups such as "This Heat" Laddio Bolocko have a more rock forward approach to song structure...at times while in the same instant owing much to past free-jazz heroes. Its truly hard to say from song to song what face these guys put on but they do it all well. This is experimental noise rock if you had to peg it to one area in particular but they do shine in slower outings and drone as well. Math elements poke their head from time to time but mostly in the drumming. It makes sense seeing as Blake Flemming was from Dazzling Killmen (an early math-rock band) he even spent time in Mars Volta.
    This group in my opinion has had a large impact on the experimental rock of our current day. With members from influential bands and also went on from this to form other amazing groups.  Members went on to play in Psychic Paramount and Electric Turn to Me.
     Highly recommended to anyone that claims to enjoy left field rock music.While they are gone I would say after enjoying their collected works here you turn to Psychic Paramount as they remain close to the same style and are an excellent band in their own right. Enjoy.


The Life and Times of Laddio Bolocko

Intronaut - Valley of Smoke (2010)

 If anyone has been following this group they would know that with each album they have improved by leaps and bounds, Valley of Smoke is no exception. This California Prog-metal/ Jazz/Alt/Awesome runs the gamut of metal styles making it all seem so seamless in the process. Songwriting has gotten tighter as well as the drums somehow getting much more complex. What I would have liked to have heard more of was the commanding bass lines that they used on their last excellent release, Prehistoricisms . Other than this small gripe I can honestly say that this (for me) will be one of the top metal releases of the year.





Intronaut - Valley of Smoke (2010)

Fago .Sepia - L'ame Sure Ruse Mal

 Jazz with a restless sense of direction.  These songs all have the distinct feeling of highly orchestrated compositions more so than a lot of their contemporaries. Hailing from France, this foursome do a lot with dynamics and playing off one another.  At times the melodies are yanked straight from a blue note session while in the same breath owing much to more recent post rock/experimental fair. With that being said songs constantly shift moods and feelings with purpose and an excellent sense of timing. Its hard to exactly state what makes this so special but I find myself coming back again and again.






Fago. Sepia - L'ame Sure Ruse Mal

Nuito - Unutella (2008)

 Instrumental 3 piece Japanese Math Rock. tapping, blasting, explosions, noise, breaks, time changes, quick. There is just so much here really. In any one song you could stretch to write 30 songs. Do you have musical ADD like me? well this is your cure. Ideas come fast and never stick around long enough for you to grab on and yet slower passages do abound. This is the sound of a band completely letting loose and having fun. The closest comparisons would be "complex full of phantoms" era Tera Melos but after they pounded 12 red bulls. Cant say enough for those of you that are into this kind of thing. Just incredibly well structured and played with surprises around every corner. yum.

 
Nuito - Unutella (2008)

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)

Bohren & der Club of Gore

You'd have sworn you've heard these songs somewhere else but your wrong, dead wrong. This German Jazz Troupe is truly what it sounds like to drive for hours at night going anywhere in the best way possible. This group which also has the slightly erroneous tag of "doom jazz" is more ambient jazz than anything else. The melodies are crisp and commanding yet soft and soothing. Its the contradictory elements that seems at constant work. Very awesome.  




Bohren & der Club of Gore - Dolores

Humcrush - Rest at Worlds End

Part of the Rune Grammophone crew this group certainly doesn't pull any punches. Fans of left field Jazz should dig this electro-improv two some. The first track is just killer with horribly complex drums and interjecting keyboard stabs.


Rest at Worlds End 2009 Album


Humcrush - Stream  Video!

Zona Mexicana

 Upstate New York 3 piece. Math rock at its roots with a hardcore spirit. If you want to talk drums, Mr. Wisch is honest to god a contender for Damon Che's well worn crown. Check this EP out and please catch them live....I have a strong feeling like myself that you wont be let down.