Kwoon, Tales & Dreams

France, 2006.

Kwoon is a small post-rock/ambient/atmospheric/shoegaze band of seven members from France. This album captures their beautiful sound, very reminiscent of Gregor Samsa.

Playlist:

1. Intro
2. I Lived on the Moon
3. Blue Melody
4. The Beast
5. Eternal Jellyfish Ballet
6. Last Sundown
7. Tinklëh
8. Tinklëh Skofa
9. The Door
10. Kwoon

Link.

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Johan Söderqvist, Let The Right One In (O.S.T.)

Sweden, 2008.

Johan Söderqvist is a Swedish composer who attended the royal college of music in Stockholm, studying composition and arranging, and is best known for his film soundtracks. One of his most recent works, the original sountrack of "Let The Right One In" ("Låt Den Rätte Komma In") is a highly recommended movie about the friendship between a twelve-year old boy and a vampire girl.

Söderqvist has described the outcome as consisting of both darkness and light, and emphasized melody and harmony as the most important qualities of the music. It is performed by the Slovak National Symphony Orchestra. The score was described as "scrupulously weaving together strains of bone-chillingly cold horror with the encompassing warmth of newly acquired love".

Playlist:

1. The Arrival
2. Eli and Oscar
3. Eli's Theme
4. The Slaughter
5. Oscar in Love
6. Hiding the Body
7. After the Fight
8. Oscar Strikes Back
9. Virginia Wakes Up
10. The Father
11. Spotting a Victim
12. Giving Up
13. Death of Håkan
14. Virginia Is Bitten
15. Then We Are Together
16. Virginia in Flames
17. Eli Bleeds
18. Related By Blood
19. Lacke Dies
20. Going Home
21. Let The Right One In

Link.

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Trespassers William, Having

US, 2006.

Hailing from Southern California, Trespassers William are an indie rock/dream pop band known for their ethereal music. "Having" is their third, released on 28 February 2006 on Nettwerk Records.

Playlist:

1. Safe, Sound
2. What of Me
3. Weakening
4. Eyes Like Bottles
5. I Don’t Mind
6. Ledge
7. And We Lean In
8. My Hands Up
9. Low Point
10. No One
11. Matching Weight

Link.

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Don't Mess With Texas, Self-titled

Croatia, 2004.

Very few post-rock bands/albums have the power to impress me these days. However, this is an album worth listening to. It's truly remarkable.

Playlist:

1. Sound Of One Lung Filling With Water
2. This Plane Is Definitely Crashing
3. We Excused Ourselves To The Bathroom And Had A Little Cry
4. Marijana, Daj Stani
5. God Might Want To Change His Mind
6. You're Not Punk And I'm Tellin' Everyone

Link.

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Seven Saturdays, Self-titled

US, 2010.

"Seven Saturdays tries to hide behind the label “minimalist,” but my experience was quite the opposite. Native Angeleno Jonathan D. Haskell has found a way to effect the sensation of being temporally somewhere between Scotland and his homeland. The juxtaposition between the cobblestone of the old country and the winding of Mulholland Drive creates a viable soundtrack for any cinematic experience, including the following suggestions: a pleasant wake ‘n’ bake sesh, a great day of surfing (in slow motion), driving through a snowstorm, or coming down off acid during twilight. It’s a big, orchestral sound with a cast of musicians who’ve worked with the likes of Bowie and the Pretenders, yet it’s as personable as a warm fuzzy, reminding me of an orchestral Mogwai (also from Scotland) but with less guitar distortion and more lush keyboards. This self-titled record does have one problem—it’s not minimal, but at only five tracks, it’s kind of a tease."

Beautiful, beautiful stuff. Kind of reminds me of Mono at times. I truly recommend it.

Playlist:

1. The Shallow End
2. Secret Things
3. Good Morning, I Love You
4. Love In The Time Of Anticipated Defeat
5. A Beautiful Day

Link.

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Bark Cat Bark, Cittadinanza

France, 2009.

"Bark Cat Bark is the music project of multi-instrumentalist Josh Todd, hailing from Paris, France. His music is recognized by the use of a large variety of instruments and minimalist compositions, often with a touch of either European classical music or French folk, but also influenced by post-rock, Balkan folk, drone, tropicália, electronica & latin jazz. He has been compared to musicians such as Yann Tiersen, Zach Condon, Jeremy Barnes and Jónsi Birgisson."

Playlist:

1. Antico Verrès
2. Benque Viejo
3. Deodoro Anthem
4. Barivia in Bálsamo
5. Hyksos
6. Viravira Fever
7. Berovo Berovo Bravo
8. Haipakka
9. The Panther in Zaventem
10. The Clock From Svanaasen
11. Obera Sundown
12. Draugur
13. Lac Fourchu

Link.

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Bosques De Mi Mente, Inocencia

Spain, 2009.

"Inocencia (Innocence) is my fourth studio album, a conceptual set of pieces intended to be listened as a whole. The concept is both musical and philosophical and is inspired by a specific book (I hope you can guess which one). For this release, I have decided to get away a bit from the minimalism of my previous releases and play more with post-romantic compositions, electronic, circuit-bending, noise and even some IDM. I think this is the most uplifting and cheerful release I have done so far, thanks in part to my situation while I composed the album, definitely better than by the time of “Ruido Blanco”."

Playlist:

1. Es un sombrero
2. Dibujame un cordero
3. Caido del cielo
4. No se ver corderos a Través de Cajas, Habré Envejecidot
5. Semillas de Baobab
6. La suavidad de la Puesta de Sol
7. En alguna parte
8. Los tigres no comen hierba
9. Pero ella no le contesto
10. Todos los hombres son subditos
11. Golpea tus manos una contra otra
12. Botellas vacias, botel
13. 501,622,731 Estrellas
14. Una vuelta por minuto
15. Yo soy geografo dijo el señor viejo
16. El septimo planeta fue, pues, la tierra
17. Delgado como un dedo
18. Los hombres no tienen
19. Estoy solo, respondio el eco
20. Y, tendido en la hierba, lloro
21. No hay nada perfecto
22. Solo los niños saben lo que buscan
23. Andaria despacito hacia una fuente
24. Lo mas importante es invisible
25. Los ojos estan ciegos
26. Tu tendras estrellas que saben reir
27. Mirad al cielo, preguntaos...

Link.

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The Tumbled Sea, Melody/Summer

US, 2009.

The Tumbled Sea is a one man project from Boston, Massachusetts, and this is his second album. Hauntingly beautiful piano melodies.

Playlist:

1. Summer II
2. Summer V
3. Summer III
4. Summer IV
5. Melody I
6. Melody II
7. Melody III
8. Ø
9. \
10. Melody IV
11. Summer VI

Link.

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Buckethead / Travis Dickerson / Brain, The Dragons of Eden

US, 2008.

The Dragons of Eden is an album made by guitarist Buckethead, producer and keyboardist Travis Dickerson and drummer Bryan "Brain" Mantia. Pretty good prog/fusion stuff.

Playlist:

1. The Cosmic Calendar
2. The Brain and the Chariot
3. The Abstractions of Beasts
4. Tales of Dim Eden
5. Lovers and Madmen
6. Future Evolution
7. Draco
8. Knowledge Is Destiny

Link.

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Beyond The Wizard's Sleeve, Ark 1

England, 2008.

Psychedelic/avant-garde/electronic/krautrock, all into one. This is one album you cannot miss.

"A serious slice of esoteric, eclectic freakbeat weirdness. Re-edited nuggets, long lost exotic psychedelia and krauty, disco beats are all mangled into previously unheard shapes."

Playlist:

1. Before We Start, If?
2. Get Ready To Fly
3. Dig It
4. Electric Bananas
5. Aglarsa Anam Aglar
6. Sunday Morning Sun-g
7. Don't Cry Girl
8. I Swim Around
9. Bubble Burst
10. Path Though The Forest
11. Light Years
12. Red Tuesday
13. Winter In June
14. Midas Reversed

Link.

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Bohren & der Club of Gore, Black Earth

Germany, 2002.

Bohren & der Club of Gore are a noir jazz band founded in 1992 in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany. They play a crossover of jazz and ambient, which they self described as an “unholy ambient mixture of slow jazz ballads, Black Sabbath doom and down tuned Autopsy sounds”. Over the years they have continously reduced and compressed their music to extremes.

Playlist:

1. Midnight Black Earth
2. Crimson Ways
3. Maximum Black
4. Vigilante Crusade
5. Destroying Angels
6. Grave Wisdom
7. Constant Fear
8. Skeletal Remains
9. The Art of Coffins

Link.

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Nils Økland, Monograph

Norway, 2009.

Nils Økland is a Hardanger fiddle player from Norway. In spite of being associated with the traditional Norway folk music scene, Nils presents a distinctive style heavily influenced by free jazz.

Playlist:

1. Mønster
2. Pas de deux
3. Kvelartak
4. Horisont
5. Mono
6. Rite
7. Ø
8. Snor
9. Slag
10. Seg
11. Dialog
12. Skimte
13. Nattsvermer

Link.

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Balmorhea, Constellations

US, 2010.

This is the fourth album by Austin-based instrumental ensemble Balmorhea. Quite different from their previous releases, "Constellations" moves away from "post-rock" and adopts a piano-driven ambient minimalism.

Playlist:

1. To The Order Of Night
2. Bowsprit
3. Winter Circle
4. Herons
5. Constellations
6. Steerage And The Lamp
7. Night Squall
8. On The Weight Of Night
9. Palestrina

Link.

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Anathema, We're Here Because We're Here

England, 2010.

So Anathema finally found a record label, Kscope, for their much anticipated release. However, other than a couple of decent songs, the album feels generally disappointing.

Playlist:

1. Thin Air
2. Summer Night Horizon
3. Dreaming Light
4. Everything
5. Angels Walk Among Us
6. Presence
7. A Simple Mistake
8. Get Off, Get Out
9. Universal
10. Hindsight

Link.

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Yeasayer, Odd Blood

U.S., 2010

The pronounciation of the band name kind of sums up what I know of them; something like yay-sayer. On a different note note, what I've heard of this album has left me well surprised. I don't know if I should go with their 'Enya with bounce' description or my own Tool of Electro-pop just because it was my foremost impression. Still, coming from a quite common kind of ensemble and the companies they share, I still found it an interesting listen for a change.


Playlist:

1. The Children
2. Ambling Alp
3. Madder Red
4. I Remember
5. O.N.E.
6. Love Me Girl
7. Rome
8. Strange Reunions
9. Mondegreen
10. Grizelda

Link.

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Eluvium, Similes

US, 2010.

Eluvium is ambient recording artist Matthew Robert Cooper who currently resides in Portland, Oregon. He is known for blending various genres of experimental music including shoegaze, electronic, minimalist and piano. His latest album includes vocals for the first time.

Playlist:

1. Leaves Eclipse The Light
2. The Motion Makes Me Last
3. In Culmination
4. Weird Creatures
5. Nightmare 5
6. Making Up Minds
7. Bending Dream
8. Cease To Know

Link.

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Under Byen, Alt Er Tabt

Denmark, 2010.

"The Danish band Under Byen (Danish for "Below the City") produce their own unorthodox interpretation of rock. Their soundscape is dominated by piano, cello, violin, electrically-distorted saw, organ, drums, percussion and the very distinctive and intense vocal of leadsinger Henriette Sennenvaldt. Under Byen’s music may best be described as a combination of rhythmic pop music and of a more avant-garde compositional soundscape."

Playlist:

1. 8
2. Territorium
3. Alt Er Tabt
4. Således
5. Ikke latteren men øjeblikket lige efter
6. Unoder
7. Konstant
8. Er noget smukt glemt findes det muligvis endnu
9. Kapitel 1
10. Protokol

Link.

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Guano Padano, Self-titled

Italy, 2009.

"Guano Padano’s music is a kind of road movie, unfolding between the scorching asphalt of Highway number 4 and the juicy smells of the peasant festivals so common in the Pianura Padana. It’s a dreaming mixture of rock, psychedelia, folk and country, jazz improvisations and Morricone hints."

Another steal from soundweave, this album is definitely worth checking out, especially if you like'd like to hear Secret Chiefs 3, Ennio Morricone and Dick Dale combined.

Playlist:

1. Guano Padano
2. A Country Concept
3. El Divino
4. Epiphany
5. Bull Buster
6. Ramblin' Man
7. Jack Frost
8. Del Rey
9. Danny Boy
10. Tromp Valley
11. El Divino (Alternate Version)

Link.

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Ólafur Arnalds, "...And They Have Escaped the Weight of Darkness"

Iceland, 2010.

Ólafur Arnalds (born 1987) is a multi-instrumentalist and producer from Mosfellsbær, Iceland. Mixing strings and piano with loops and edgy beats, Ólafur Arnalds' music crosses over from classical to pop.

Playlist:

1. Þú Ert Sólin
2. Þú Ert Jörðin
3. Tunglið
4. Loftið Verður Skyndilega Kalt
5. Kjurrt
6. Gleypa Okkur
7. Hægt, Kemur Ljósið
8. Undan Hulu
9. Þau Hafa Sloppið Undan þunga Myrkursins

Link.

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Valravn, Self-titled

Denmark, 2007.

The first album by Danish folk/electronic band, Valravn. A bit more folkish than the following release, but still well worth listening.

Playlist:

1. Hedebys
2. Drømte Mig En Drøm
3. Krummi
4. Svend I Rosengaard
5. Marsk
6. Vallevan
7. Under Bølgen Blå
8. Olavur Riddararos
9. Kom Alle Væsener
10. Bialowieska
11. Harra Pætur Og Elinborg

Link.

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Mooncake, Lagrange Points

Russia, 2008.

Many a month ago (ok, it was in February) someone requested some Mooncake. I apologise for the delay and hope you enjoy this really cool instrumental band from Moscow.

Playlist:

1. Nine Billion Names... (to A. Clarke)
2. L2
3. Message From Arecibo
4. Rain In The Ashtray
5. L1
6. 444
7. Novorossiysk 1968
8. L4
9. Mandarin
10. L3
11. The Horizons
12. L5
13. Short Stories Of Methuselah Tree

Link.

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65daysofstatic, We Were Exploding Anyway

England, 2010.

"The band's fourth album, We Were Exploding Anyway, was released on 26 April 2010. First reviews of the album state that the band is going further away from the post-rock sound of their beginning and turning toward an electronic style, using more synthesizers and less electric guitars and live drums."

Playlist:

1. Mountainhead
2. Crash Tactics
3. Dance Dance Dance
4. Piano Fights
5. Weak4
6. Come to Me" (featuring Robert Smith)
7. Go Complex
8. Debutante
9. Tiger Girl

Link.

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Balmorhea, River Arms

US, 2008.

Balmorhea is a band formed in 2006 in Austin, Texas. Their sound is a mix of post-rock, ambient, classical and acoustic sounds. Really nice stuff that vaguely reminds me of Hammock, Ólafur Arnalds and Bosques de mi Mente.

Playlist:

1. San Solomon
2. Lament
3. The Summer
4. The Winter
5. Greyish Tapering Ash
6. Baleen Morning
7. Barefoot Pilgrims
8. Context
9. Process
10. Divisadero
11. Limmat
12. Theme No. 1
13. Windan Sea
14. San Solomon (Reprise)

Link.

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Microfilm, The Bay Of Future Passed

France, 2009.

Microfilm is a french band created in 2003 by musicians coming from various musical backgrounds and bands such as Gum, Seven Hate and Myra Lee. The result of their meeting is an instrumental music including audio and video samples and is often described as post-rock in the vein of Mogwai, Explosions In The Sky and From Monuments To Masses.

Playlist:

1. Brute Force
2. Blood Sample
3. State & Island
4. The Bay of Future Passed
5. Devant Nous, Rien
6. Dernière Séquence
7. Combinaison
8. Blood Sample (feat. Antoine Delavaud)

Link.

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Dorena, Holofon

Sweden, 2009.

Dorena is a Swedish post-rock band formed in 2007 by 5 guys spread around the city of Gothenburg. "Holofon", the band's debut, is still an exceptionally well-made album with amazing ambient/atmospheric rock parts.

Playlist:

1. Fantasia
2. Till Våning Tretton
3. Solen Har Förblindat Mig
4. Tiden Gick, Men Utan Oss
5. I Huset Jag Växte Upp
6. En Tonårsromans
7. Dagsländan

Link.

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Gathiens, Nesh

US, 2009.

"Gathiens‘ debut album was written way back in between the spring of 2005 and the summer of 2006, with the majority of it recorded over one weekend down by the beach. After being allowed to gather dust for quite some time, it has finally been brushed off and 2009 sees it receive the proper worldwide release that it so clearly deserves. It is an album that has been lovingly slotted piece by piece into place, like some kind of magnificent sonic jigsaw."

Playlist:

1. Alto Above
2. Connectango
3. Inner Mission
4. Telos
5. Squall
6. Hegira
7. Nesh

Link.

more...

Irepress, Sol Eye Sea I

US, 2009.

A 5-piece rock band from Sharon, Massachusetts. They began as a very heavy sludge metal, evolving to a sludge-influenced but more progressive, instrumental post-rock. Sounds like a mixture of Rosetta and Giant Squid.


Playlist:

1. Diaspora
2. Rhintu
3. Barrageo
4. Daniel Sen
5. Cyette Phiur
6. Fletchie
7. Adeluge
8. Billy
9. Entanglement

Link.

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Fading Waves, Please Wait

Russia, 2010.

Fading Waves is a one-man post-metal/sludge band from Rostov-on-Don, Russia, formed in 2008 by Lex Maximuk. "Please Wait" combines the intensity of Isis with the atmospheric sound of Cult of Luna.

Playlist:

1. Rush Hour
2. Megapolis Depression
3. Lights On Water
4. Forever Closed
5. No Way Home
6. Flows
7. Waiting For End

Link.

more...