Giant Squid, The Ichthyologist

US, 2009

With new Mastodon I have had little time to explore Giant Squid's new album, but from first impression they are going for a more mellow sound on this one. I miss the heavier moments of Metridium Field, but the songwriting and vocals are more diverse than on previous efforts.


Playlist:

01 - Panthalassa
02 - La Brea Tar Pits
03 - Sutterville
04 - Dead Man Slough
05 - Throwing a Donner Party at Sea
06- Sevengill
07 - Mormon Island
08 - Blue Linckia
09 - Emerald Bay
10 - Rubicon Wall.mp3

Link.

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Opeth, Burden (Single)

Sweden, 2008.

We don't usually post singles, but I thought this one was worthwhile. Watershed's second single, released on December 9, 2008, includes a radio edit of Burden, an alternate recording of album track and single Porcelain Heart performed on mellotron and mini-Moog synthesizers, and a cover of the Alice in Chains song Would?

Playlist:

1. Burden (Radio Edit)
2. Mellotron Heart
3. Would?

Link.

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Fair to Midland, Fables From a Mayfly: What I Tell You Three Times Is True

US, 2007

Amazing prog rock band from Texas. They'll remind you of Rishloo and dredg, but the vocals approach the hardcore genre at times.

Playlist:

1 - Dance of the Manatee
2 - Kyla Cries Cologne
3 - Vice/Versa
4 - The Wife, the Kids, and the White Picket Fence
5 - April Fools and Eggmen
6 - A Seafarer's Knot
7 - A Wolf Descends Upon the Spanish Sahara
8 - Walls of Jericho
9 - Tall Tables Taste Like Sour Grapes
10 - Upgrade^Brigade
11 - Say When

Link.

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Mono, Hymn To The Immortal Wind

Japan, 2009.

The latest album by instrumental post-rock band, Mono. Simply astounding.

Playlist:

1. Ashes in the Snow
2. Burial at Sea
3. Silent Fight, Sleeping Dawn
4. Pure as Snow (Trails of the Winter Storm)
5. Follow the Map
6. The Battle to Heaven
7. Everlasting Light

Link.

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Pure Reason Revolution, Amor Vincit Omnia

UK, 2009

PRR's second album has a lot of hype to live up to: their debut not only revived UK prog, but also brought them recognition from the likes of Steven Wilson and Rick Wakeman. Those expecting a direct follow-up to the Dark Third will be disappointed - the lush ambiance reminiscent of Pink Floyd has been replaced by a more electronic sound akin to NIN.


Playlist:

01 - Les Malheurs
02 - Victorious Cupid
03 - Keep Me Sane/Insane
04 - Apogee
05 - Deus Ex Machina
06 - Bloodless
07 - Disconnect
08 - The Gloaming
09 - AVO

Link.

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Amon Düül, Psychedelic Underground

Germany, 1969

Amon Düül began in 1967 as a radical political art commune of Munich based artists calling themselves, in part, after the Egyptian Sun God Amon, Düül has been cited as a character from Turkish fiction.

Playlist:

1 - Ein Wunderhubsches Madchen Traumt Von Sandosa
2 - Kaskados Minnelied
3 - Mama Düül Und Ihre Sauerkrautb
4 - Im Garten Sandosa
5 - Der Garten Sandosa Im Morgentau
6 - Bitterlings Verwandlung

Link.

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Crippled Black Phoenix, The Resurrectionists / Night Raider

UK, 2009.

Crippled Black Phoenix is a post-rock/experimental band from the United Kingdom, formed by members of Electric Wizard and Mogwai. The band has described their own songs as “end time ballads”. “Born from a blizzard of horned cats, Crippled Black Phoenix bring you a twisted cinematic experience, handcrafted by a mercenary crew of underground heavyweights, giving depth and gravity to regal songs about love, loss, tragedies and redemption."

Playlist:

The Resurrectionists:

1. Burnt Reynolds
2. Rise Up and Fight
3. Whissendine
4. Crossing the Bar
5. 200 Tons of Bad Luck
6. Please Do Not Stay Here
7. Song for the Loved
8. A Hymn for a Lost Soul
9. 444
10. Littlestep
11. Human Nature Dictates the Downfall of Humans

Night Raider:
1. Time of Ye Life/Born for Nothing/Paranoid Arm if Narcoleptic Empire
2. Wendigo
3. Bat Stack
4. Along Where the Wind Blows
5. Onward Ever Downwards
6. A Lack of Common Sense
7. Trust No One
8. I Am Free, Today I Perished

Link.

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Archive, Lights

England, 2006.

Archive are an alternative/electronic rock band, originating from London. Archive have known many different line-ups, but in May, 2006 Lights was released with Pollard Berrier on lead vocals.

Playlist:

1. Sane
2. Sit Back Down
3. Veins
4. System
5. Fold
6. Lights
7. I Will Fade
8. Headlights
9. Programmed
10. Black
11. Taste of Blood

Link.

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Holler, Wild Rose!, Our Little Hymnal

US, 2007.

"Named after the song that has become a landmark crowd favorite at their concerts - Holler, Wild Rose! features the sound of six (and sometimes seven) people who channel a range of melodic themes, reverberant guitars, shoegaze orchestrations, subtle to thundering rhythms, vintage textures and memorable bass lines as a setting for the expressive vocal melodies of John Mosloskie’s unfettered, visceral voice."

Thanks to André Lobão for suggesting this one.

Playlist:

1. Holler, Wild Rose!
2. First Selah
3. Marylawn Hair
4. Mercy Beat
5. Captive Train
6. Poor In Spirit
7. Second Selah
8. Sun Vines
9. Thief In Our Bed
10. Color That Sky
11. Third Selah
12. Promise Braid

Link.

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Omar A. Rodríguez-López, Old Money

US, 2008

Usually ORL solo efforts lack polish and are far too over indulgent for me to bother: I'd rather wait for a TMV album and listen to the decent moments fleshed out into proper songs. I picked his latest album since I'll be watching him soonn on his European tour, and although I was pleasantly surprised by how cohesive the album sounds, I expect it to be a completely different beast live.


Playlist:

01 - The Power of Myth
02 - How to Bill the Bilderberg Group
03 - Population Council's Wet Dream
04 - Private Fortunes
05 - Trilateral Commission as Dinner Guests
06 - 1921
07 - Family War Funding (Love Those Rothschilds)
08 - Vipers in the Bosom
09 - I Like Rockefellers' First Two Albums, but After That...
10 - Old Money

Link.

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Zu, Carboniferous

Italy, 2009

Zu was one of the most entertaining bands I saw last year, and their infectious live act is perfectly captured in Carboniferous, which is itself a product of years on the road. Despite being firmly avant-garde, Carboniferous is accessible enough to extend far beyond Ipecac's typical market.



Playlist:

1. Ostia
2. Chthonian
3. Carbon
4. Beata Viscera
5. Erineys
6. Soulympics
7. Axion
8. Mimosa Hostilis
9. Obsidian
10. Orc

Link.

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Magma, Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh

France, 1973

Epic progressive rock band formed in the late 60's. They founded the zeuhl genre.

Playlist:

1 - Hortz Fur Dëhn Stekëhn West
2 - Ïma Süri Dondaï
3 - Kobaïa is de Hündïn
4 - Da Zeuhl Wortz Mekanïk
5 - Nebëhr Gudahtt
6 - Mekanïk Kommandöh
7 - Kreühn Köhrmahn Iss De Hündïn


Link.

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Jacaszek, Treny

Poland, 2008

Jacaszek is Michał Jacaszek, and Treny is his most recent album, released in late May. A palimpsest of ambient, electronic, trip-hop and modern classical, this work is a true masterpiece.

Playlist:

1. Rytm to Nieśmiertelność I
2. Lament
3. Orszula
4. Żal
5. Powoli
6. Taniec
7. O Ma Zalosci!
8. Tren IV
9. Walc
10. Martwa Cisza
11. Rytm to Nieśmiertelność II

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Deadboy & The Elephantmen, We Are Night Sky

US, 2006

Visceral indie rock duo Deadboy & the Elephantmen began as a solo project for singer/guitar player and ex-Agents of Oblivion/Acid Bath member Dax Riggs in 2000. He spent four years playing with a rotating cast of local characters before hooking up with New Orleans-born singer/drummer Tessie Brunet in 2004. Recorded in Houma, LA, their Fat Possum debut, We Are Night Sky, was released in February 2006.

Playlist:

1 - Stop I'm Already Dead 
2 - No Rainbow 
3 - How Long the Night Was 
4 - Ancient Man 
5 - Dressed in Smoke 
6 - Blood Music 
7 - Walking Stick
8 - Kissed by Lightning 
9 - Misadventures of Dope 
10 - Break it Off 
11 - Evil Friend
12 - What the Stars Have Eaten 


Link.

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