Everything Is Made In China, Automatic Movements

Russia, 2009.

Everything Is Made In China's second release is an incredibly beautiful but melancholic atmospheric post-rock album.

Playlist:

1. Moving Fragments
2. Automatic
3. The City Of Airstrip One
4. Blindfold
5. Universe for Sale
6. Held Back Clapping
7. Sleepwalking
8. Dance Pianist
9. Gentle Silence
10. Wade In

Link.

more...

Rökkurró, Það kólnar í kvöld...

Iceland, 2007.

"Hatched in a dim lit attic in Reykjavík, at the dawn of 2006 Rökkurró’s five founding members began conversing in smooth tones, drawing inspiration from the silky sunrays that crept through the windows.

Rökkurró present music that is at once soothing and forceful. The folk-tinged reverie of the wailing accordion and carefully plucked guitars sends you off sailing through the clouds while the dramatic cello and clever drumming demand your full attention."

Beautiful stuff.


Playlist:
1. Hún
2. Í Sjávarháska
3. Ringulreið
4. Ferðalangurinn
5. Hetjan á Fjallinu
6. Heiðskýr Heimsendir
7. Allt Gullið
8. Í Blíðu Stríði
9. Dagur þrjú
10. Ljósglæta

Link.

more...

The Mercury Program, Chez Viking

US, 2009.

"Chez Viking is a twinkling, shimmer album whose strengths of interplay between guitar and vibraphone or Rhodes are anchored by a propulsive and driving rhythm section. It’s a fantastic combination that succinctly captures the band’s bright intensity, and the benefit of extended time The Mercury Program had to write Chez Viking is well reflected in the songs’ thoughtfully complex arrangements."


Playlist:

1. Chez Viking
2. Arrived/Departed
3. Backseat Blackout
4. Katos
5. Stand & Sing
6. The Church of Cause and Effect
7. Fluorescent Laces

Link.

more...

The Herbaliser Band, Session 2

England, 2009.

The Herbaliser Band is a full support band for The Herbaliser, a London-based hip-hop/jazz/funk duo. The Herbaliser Band have recorded two albums till date, aptly titled Session One and Session 2, where they play some awesome acid jazz/funky electronica.

Playlist:

1. Mr. Chombee Has The Flow
2. Geddim!
3. AM Prelude
4. Another Mother
5. Blackwater Drive
6. MS Prelude
7. Moon Sequence
8. Amores Bongo
9. CC Prelude
10. Theme From Control Centre
11. Stranded On Earth

Link.

more...

Ruined Machines, The Grasping Hands Of Possibility

US, 2007.

"Ruined Machines are an experimental, instrumental rock band out of Linden, New Jersey. With influences ranging from post- and space-rock bands such as Red Sparowes and Explosions in the Sky, hard rock and metal acts like CKY and Hopesfall, and even classic rock outfits like Queen and Pink Floyd, Ruined Machines make use of mellow, atmospheric sounds as well as heavy rock guitar solos to make their sound more creative and enjoyable to listen to."

Playlist:

1. Hardly a Place of Honor
2. Earth's Best Kept Secret
3. The Grasping Hands of Possibility
4. Of Aries & Aquarius
5. Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
6. Hidden Paths to the Core
7. Your Morphing Mindset
8. Deep Thought & Deep Space
9. Miss Television Intelligence

Link.

more...

Cobalt, Gin

US, 2009.

Cobalt is a two-man project composed by vocalist/lyricist Phil McSorley (a US army scout stationed in Iraq) and multi-instrumentalist Erik Wunder. Two tracks also feature vocals from Jarboe (ex-Swans). Not your trve, lo-fi black metal, "Gin" is tempered with progressive, doom, experimental, avant-garde and sludge influences - but who cares? It's pretty damn good.

Playlist:

1. Gin
2. Dry Body
3. Arsonry
4. Throat
5. Stomach
6. A Clean, Well-Lighted Place
7. Pregnant Insect
8. Two-Thumbed Fist
9. The Old Man Who Lied For His Entire Life
10. A Starved Horror
11. Stew Craven / ...

Link.

more...

Devin Townsend Project, Addicted

Canada, 2009.

Addicted is the eleventh studio album by Canadian musician Devin Townsend, and the second of four planned albums in The Devin Townsend Project series. The album was written and produced by Townsend, and features Ryan Van Poederooyen, Brian Waddell, Mark Cimino, and Anneke van Giersbergen. "Danceable" progressive music.

Playlist:

1. Addicted!
2. Universe In A Ball!
3. Bend It Like Bender!
4. Supercrush!
5. Hyperdrive!
6. Resolve!
7. Ih-Ah!
8. The Way Home!
9. Numbered!
10. Awake!!

Link.

more...

Wildbirds & Peacedrums, The Snake

Sweden, 2009.

Wildbirds & Peacedrums are an experimental two piece hailing from Sweden consisting of singer Mariam Wallentin and drummer Andreas Werliin. Their "instruments" consist of Mariam's powerful vocals and Andreas' unorthodox percussion/drumming, resulting in a powerful, innovative sound. Their music is a hybrid of folk, blues and psychedelic.

Playlist:

1. Island
2. There Is No Light
3. Chain Of Steel
4. So Soft So Pink
5. Places
6. Great Lines
7. Today/Tomorrow
8. Liar Lion
9. Who Ho Ho Ho
10. My Heart

Link.

more...

Hadoken, Luminary

US, 2010.

Hadoken is a multi-instrumental group located in Amherst, MA featuring a blend of ambiance, melodic rock, jazz, and metal. They’re heavily influenced through the upbringings of post-rock and classical music, creating orchestral-like pieces often described as contemplative and chaotic.

Playlist:

1. Prelude
2. The Ballad of Floating Fire
3. Stations
4. Cloud Ruler Temple
5. World of D.W.E.A.M.S.
6. From Winters
7. Mandala
8. Time And The Observer

Link.

more...

Ólafur Arnalds, Found Songs

Iceland, 2009.

Born in 1987, Ólafur hails from the suburban Icelandic town, Mosfellsbær, just a few kilometres outside of Reykjavík. He has immersed himself completely in a world of delicate symphonic compositions generating near weightless orchestral pieces.

Arnalds explores the crossover from classical to pop by mixing chamber strings and piano with discreet electronics which makes him a perfect fit for cinematic pop label Erased Tapes.

His motivations are clear: “The classical scene is kind of closed to people who haven’t been studying music all their lives. I would like to bring my classical influence to the people who don’t usually listen to this kind of music…open people’s minds.”

Playlist:

1. Erla's Waltz
2. Raein
3. Romance
4. Allt varð hljótt
5. Lost Song
6. Faun
7. Ljósið

Link.

more...

Tuna Laguna, Ripples And Swells

Norway, 2007.

Tuna Laguna is a band from Lofoten and Vesterålen, Norway. Their music is widely influenced by post-rock bands like Tortoise and Do Make Say Think, but also by Can and progressive rock from the 70's. Tuna Laguna's sound mixes standard post-rock with instruments like banjo, rhodes piano, glockenspiel, analog synths and "babypiano" amongst others. In 2007 they released their dfirst full-length album, "Ripples And Swells".

Playlist:

1. My Lunar Boots
2. On to Tarmac
3. Tidal Eddies
4. Pling (a breather)
5. Arrival of the Rhino
6. The Insignificant Grape
7. Feather Beats
8. Plong (a teaser)
9. Barry on Safari
10. That's Where We're at

Link.

more...

Grails, Burning Off Impurities

US, 2007.

Grails are an American instrumental rock band from Portland, Oregon. This is their third album, released on Temporary Residence Limited.

Playlist:

1 Soft Temple
2 More Extinction
3 Silk Rd
4 Drawn Curtains
5 Outer Banks
6 Dead Vine Blues
7 Origin-ing
8 Burning Off Impurities

Link.

more...

Le Lendemain, Fires

England/Sweden, 2009.

"Le Lendemain is made up of Danny Norbury and David Wenngren. Danny is from Manchester, England, David from Gävle, Sweden. David works under a bunch of guises, his most well-known being Library Tapes. Danny worked with David on the Library Tapes albums ‘Sketches’ and ‘a summer beneath the trees’ but ‘Fires’ is their first full album together. Danny plays cello and dulcitone, David piano and field recordings."

Playlist:

1. Fiore
2. Petrichor
3. Linden
4. Att Andas
5. Narbonne
6. Lois
7. Paus
8. Le Fleuve
9. Even With Eyes Closed

Link.

more...

Galandum Galundaina, Senhor Galandum

Portugal, 2010

Galandum Galundaina devoted part of his life to collect, study and disseminate in the most diverse forms the traditional music of their small region: Miranda. This work reflects the maturity of the group, fourteen years of music that translate simply in "Senhor Galandum".

Playlist:
1. Fraile Cornudo
2. L Pandeiro
3. Rebola la boda
4. Burgalesa
5. Senhor Galandum
6. Cabalheiralgo
7. L Cura stá malo
8. La galhina
9. Coquelhada Marralheira
10. Bolsa rastreira/ Heilena
11. Modas de baile
12. Senhor Mio
13. Mie madre tenie un huorto
14. Nabos (cun alheiras i bino)

Link.

more...

The Waters Deep Here, Sunden

US, 2009.

"The Waters Deep Here is a small, instrumental band from Salt Lake City (...) Their first album, Sunden, exhibits an array of musical talent that crosses from dark metal to progressive to mellow and back again, but they’re able to blend the sound in such a way that the listener is never felt confused or lost.

Musically, they sound like a combination of Tool, ISIS and Coheed and Cambria. If you’re a fan of prog rock or metal, you should give The Waters Deep Here a try."

Playlist:

1. Acedia
2. Super Bia
3. Gula
4. Mammon
5. Envy
6. Ira
7. Asmodeus

Link.

more...

Oaqk, München

Japan, 2009.

"München is the debut album of Oaqk. Breaking down ensembles with twin guitars clashing against each other and bringing in thunderous noise and clashing notes with a violent yet stable rhythm line. Inevitably you will be sucked into the turbulence only to be jettisoned out to relative and fleeting tranquility."

Playlist:

1. Inferno Paradiso
2. Belarus
3. I Hope
4. Cold Hands
5. Dead Horse Running
6. Silver Snow Fall
7. Omen She Brings
8. 6 Years
9. Purgatrio

Link.

more...

Profondo Rosso, Rue Bara

France, 2008.

"Inspired by the world of movie soundtracks, Profondo Rosso develops an instrumental music that ranges from folk songs to electrified tracks – as such as those one can hear in film noirs. The name of the band comes from the original title of the 1975 Dario Argento’s movie, Deep Red."

Playlist:

1. Au Vélodrome
2. Estivale
3. 08:34
4. Pourmenadenn Ar Bonedoù Ruz
5. Prémonade
6. A La Belle Étoile
7. La Plaine Électrique
8. Rue Bara

Link.

more...

The Unwinding Hours, Self-titled

Scotland, 2010.

Iain Cook and Craig B., former members of Glasgow alternative/post-rock band Aereogramme have formed a new project, The Unwinding Hours, and this is their debut. The most beautiful sad music, very reminiscent of Aereogramme.

Playlist:

1. Knut
2. Tightrope
3. Little One
4. There Are Worse Things than Being Alone
5. Solstice
6. Peaceful Liquid Shell
7. Child
8. Traces
9. Annie Jane
10. The Final Hour

Link.

more...

Fever Ray, Self-titled

Sweden, 2009.

Fever Ray is the solo project of Karin Dreijer Andersson, from the Swedish electro duo The Knife. Interesting electronic/ambient stuff.

Playlist:

1. If I Had A Heart
2. When I Grow Up
3. Dry And Dusty
4. Seven
5. Triangle Walks
6. Concrete Walls
7. Now's the Only Time I Know
8. I'm Not Done
9. Keep the Streets Empty for Me
10. Coconut

Link.

more...

Efterklang, Magic Chairs

Denmark, 2010.

"Magic Chairs" is the third studio album from Danish alternative/post-rock/electronic group Efterklang. Incredibly beautiful and upbeat at the same time.

Playlist:

1. Modern Drift
2. Alike
3. I Was Playing Drums
4. Raincoats
5. Harmonics
6. Full Moon
7. The Soft Beating
8. Scandinavian Love
9. Mirror Mirror
10. Natural Tune

more...

Immune, Not Until Morning

France, 2008.

"Shuffling jazzy drums, introspective vocals, beautiful piano, gorgeous interspersed guitars all spaced out beautifully giving the song time to breathe..."

"Take a little bit of post-rock and cross it with cinematic pop, and I think you might get what Immune was going for on Not Until Morning. At times jazzy, but very dour and slow."

Playlist:

1. Lie Awake
2. Slow Backwards
3. Wakening Of A Former Land
4. When We Faint
5. Misplaced
6. Slightly Upon My Arm
7. Hello
8. Recorded Home

Link.

more...

Amiina, Kurr

Iceland, 2007.

Amiina is an all-female string quartet from Reykjavík, Iceland, and this is their debut album. They create beautiful ambient/chamber music with a touch of electronics. A perfect soundtrack for dreams.

Playlist:

01. Sogg
02. Rugla
03. Glámur
04. Seoul
05. Lúpína
06. Hilli
07. Sexfaldur
08. Kolapot
09. Saga
10. Lóri
11. Bláfeldur
12. Boga

Link.

more...