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

Link.

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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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The Mars Volta, The Bedlam In Goliath

US, 2008

Considering that Frances The Mute is the only Mars Volta album I almost dislike and that nothing they could ever come up with could possibly beat De-Loused In The Comatorium, The Bedlam In Goliath isn't so bad after all. Although the band's sound becomes somewhat repetitive in this album, that is compensated by the six awesome bonus tracks included in this upload. Also, if you're familiar with Omar A. Rodríguez-López's solo work, you'll recognize the sped-up song Ouroborous from his album Se Dice Bisonte, No Bùfalo (called Rapid Fire Tollbooth).
The Bedlam has a pretty strange story based on Omar's trip to Jerusalem, peculiar curses and a ouija board, which I obviously recommend you to read here.

Playlist:

1 - Aberinkula
2 - Metatron
3 - Ilyena
4 - Wax Simulacra
5 - Goliath
6 - Tourniquet Man
7 - Cavalletas
8 - Agadez
9 - Askepios
10 - Ouroborous
11 - Soothsayer
12 - Conjugal Burns
13 - Pulled To Bits (Siouxsie And The Banshees)
14 - Things Behind The Sun (Nick Drake)
15 - Back Up Against The Wall (Circle Jerks)
16 - Memories (Soft Machine)
17 - Birthday (The Sugarcubes)
18 - Candy And A Currant Bun (Pink Floyd)

Link.

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Neu!, Selt-titled

Germany, 1972

Neu! was a band formed by two members of Kraftwerk which later became known as one of the founding fathers of Krautrock.

Playlist:

1 - Hallo Gallo
2 - Sonderangebot
3 - Weissensee
4 - Im Glück
5 - Negativland
6 - Lieber Honig

Link.

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Mono, You Are There

Japan, 2006.

MONO are a post-rock group from Tokyo, Japan. Their songs, entirely instrumental, present powerfully layered guitars, backed up by strings and piano-based melodies.

Playlist:

1. The Flames Beyond The Cold Mountain
2. A Heart Has Asked For The Pleasure
3. Yearning
4. Are You There?
5. The Remains Of The Day
6. Moonlight

Link.

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Mostly Autumn, Spirit of Autumn Past

England, 1999.

This is the second album of Mostly Autumn, a progressive rock band from York, England. Their music combines celtic-influenced folk with neo-progressive rock.

Playlist:

1. Winter Mountain
2. This Great Blue Pearl
3. Pieces of Love
4. Please
5. Evergreen
6. Styhead Tarn
7. Shindig
8. Blakey Ridge/When Waters Meet
9. Underneath the Ice (Troubled Dreams)
10. Through the Window
11. Spirit of Autumn Past, Pt. 1
12. Spirit of Autumn Past, Pt. 2
13. Gap Is Too Wide

Link.

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Emery Reel, ...For And Acted Upon Through Diversions

U.S., 2003.

"Constructive noise. Destructive noise." Emery Reel are an instrumental/post-rock band from Nashville, Tennessee.

Playlist:

1. They Are Cohercing Ideas Into the Mind
2. A New Beginning
3. Hence; Therefore, Again
4. Departure of Hope
5. Cam's March
6. His Hammer Is My Axe
7. Uneasy, the Crossing Guard

Link.

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Mamiffer, Hirror Enniffer

U.S., 2008.

“Mamiffer is Faith Coloccia, a Seattle-based pianist, and a collective of song-weavers and visionaries. Under the watchful eye of Coloccia and her trusty tape recorder, friends Aaron Turner from Isis and Chris Common from These Arms Are Snakes have gathered to compile an environmental scourge of noise and atmosphere that is elegant, striking, and evocative.” Absolutely recommended.

Playlist:

1. This Land
2. Death Shawl
3. Annwn
4. Black Running Water
5. Suckling a Dead Litter
6. Cyhraeth

Link.

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Agalloch, Ashes Against the Grain

U.S., 2006.

Agalloch is a duo founded by John Haughm and Shane Breyer, from Portland, Oregon, in 1996. Their sound is a combination of folk, doom and progressive metal.

Playlist:

1. Limbs
2. Falling Snow
3. This White Mountain On Which You Will Die
4. Fire Above, Ice Below
5. Not Unlike the Waves
6. Our Fortress Is Burning... I
7. Our Fortress Is Burning... II - Bloodbirds
8. Our Fortress Is Burning... III - The Grain

Link.

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