Eluvium, Copia

United States, 2007.
Matthew Cooper is the mind behind Eluvium. This is his latest work, a beautiful blend of electronic, ambient and post-rock.

Playlist:

1. amreik
2. indoor swimming at the space station
3. seeing you off the edges
4. prelude for time feelers
5. requiem on frankfort ave.
6. radio ballet
7. intermission
8. after nature
9. reciting the airships
10. ostinato
11. hymn #1
12. repose in blue

Link.

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Liquid Trio Experiment, Spontaneous Combustion

US, 1998/2007

This release was a surprise for me, as Liquid Tension Experiment have been dead for quite some time. The album is composed of material recorded in 1998 by Portnoy/Levin/Ruddess in the absence of Petrucci, who took leave to be with his wife as she went into labor.

LTE might be "that Dream Theater band without the vocalist", but it's amazing how different it sounds without a high-pitched squeal delivering nursery school poetry every few seconds. LTE also seems to be more about the music, rather than a clash between instruments trying to gain their claim to fame, and this release, stripped down to only three elements, is even more successful in indulging in experimentation without crossing into excess. Might not be for everyone ("omgz, no guitar solos! or hair conditioner!"), but Ruddess' performance on Fire Dance alone should make it worth a listen.

Playlist

1. Chris And Kevin's Bogus Journey
2. Hot Rod
3. Rpp
4. Hawaiian Funk
5. Cappuccino
6. Jazz Odyssey
7. Fire Dance
8. The Rubberband Man
9. Holes
10. Tony's Nightmare
11. Boom Boom
12. Return Of The Rubberband Man
13. Disneyland Symphony



Massmirror.

megaupload (Direct Link)

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The Gathering, Souvenirs

Netherlands, released in 2003.
Even though they're mostly associated to gothic metal, The Gathering's music has come a long way in terms of style and quality. Souvenirs can be best described as ambient, trip-hop and soft rock with amazing female vocals. This is one of my all time favourite albums.

Playlist:

1. these good people
2. even the spirits are afraid
3. broken glass
4. you learn about it
5. souvenirs
6. we just stopped breathing
7. monsters
8. golden grounds
9. jelena

Link.

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God is an Astronaut, Far from Refuge

Ireland, 2007.

Currently my favourite instrumental post-rock band. Not a boring moment during entire albums.

Playlist:

1. Radau
2. Far From Refuge
3. Sunrise In Aries
4. Grace Descending

5. New Years End
6. Darkfall
7. Tempus Horizon
8. Lateral Noise
9. Beyond the Dying Light


Massmirror.
zShare (direct)

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Emptyself, Emptyself

U.S., 2005.

Eric Johanson's 'other' band besides Cire features more introspective music with a trip-hop edge. Soothing electronica with lush guitars and the odd solo (in particular Doll Faced Vulture) compose a relaxing detour from Cire's more focused rock approach.

Playlist:

1. None Except You
2. The Open Landscape
3. Phantoms In The Sky
4. Doll Faced Vulture
5. Forget Me Please
6. Liberated
7. The Postulate
8. It Could Be So Beautiful
9. 24 Waves
10. The Way To Crash
11. And Though We Fade Away...

Link.

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Isis & Aereogramme, In The Fishtank 14

U.S./Scotland, 2006.
"In The Fishtank" is an ongoing project of Konkurrent, an independent music distributor in the Netherlands. In this project, Konkurrent invites one or two bands to record and gives them two days studio time.
Isis are an american post-metal/sludge band. Aereogramme play post-rock/alternative/indie and come from Scotland. The combination is simply divine.

Playlist:

1. low tide
2. delial
3. stolen

Link.

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Paatos, Kallocain

Sweden, 2004.
In my opinion, this is the best Paatos album, one of those works that unfortunately has been doomed to remain in obscurity. Kallocain mixes a soft art rock with jazz, trip-hop and electronic elements, creating a dreamy and hypnotic sound.

Playlist:

1. gasoline
2. holding on
3. happiness
4. absinth minded
5. look at us
6. reality
7. stream
8. won't be coming back
9. in time

Link.

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Paatos, Timeloss

Sweden, 2002.
Reine Fiske and Stefan Dimle were both members of Landberk and then Morte Macabre. In 2000 they formed Paatos, a wonderful progressive rock combined with trip-hop, jazz, atmospheric and, finally, Petronella Nettermalm's amazing voice.

Playlist:

1. sensor
2. hypnotique
3. téa
4. they are beautiful
5. quits

Link.

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Estradasphere, It's Understood

US, 2000.
Demented eclectic music from the bastard children of Mr Bungle. Country meets gypsy metal meets Nintendo in an all-out attempt at proving they have more creativity and technical ability than almost every half-arsed prog band out there, and they do it whilst having fun. And prove it they did.

Playlist:

1. Hunger Strike
2. Cloud Land
3. The Transformation
4. Danse Of Tosho & Slavi/Randy's Desert Adventure
5. The Trials And Tribulations Of Parking On Your Front Lawn
6. The Princes Of 'Xibalba': The Princes
7. The Princes Of 'Xibalba': Los Dias Sin Dias
8. The Princes Of 'Xibalba': XQuiQ
9. The Princes Of 'Xibalba': Hunnahpu & Xbalanque
10. Spreading The Disease
11. Planet Sparkle/Court Yard Battle 1
12. D Flat Hell

Link (megaupload).

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Porcupine Tree, Fear Of A Blank Planet

England, 2007.
This is the latest Porcupine Tree album, released in April this year.

Playlist:

1. fear of a blank planet
2. my ashes
3. anesthetize
4. sentimental
5. way out of here
6. sleep together

Link.

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Morte Macabre, Symphonic Holocaust

Sweden, released in 1998.
Morte Macabre was formed by members of two swedish progressive rock bands, Landberk and Anekdoten. They play a cinematic/dark progressive rock, and, sadly, this is the only album they have ever released.

Playlist:

1. apoteosi del mistero
2. threats of stark reality
3. sequenza ritmica e tema
4. lullaby
5. quiet drops
6. opening theme
7. the photosession
8. symphonic holocaust


Link.

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Anathema, A Fine Day To Exit

England, 2001.
An alternative/progressive rock album, quite mellow and absolutely stunning.

Playlist:

1. pressure
2. release
3. looking outside inside
4. leave no trace
5. underworld
6. barriers
7. panic
8. a fine day to exit
9. temporary peace

Link.

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