Hard hitting heavy vocals and muddy guitars, “Bread and Honey” the debut EP from Irk is for the fans of the heavier side of our beloved genre.
FFO Meshuggah, The Jesus Lizard, Zu, These Arms Are Snakes
The EP is available as pay what you want download from their bandcamp, but don’t be a dick chuck them a few quid
Check out instrumental math-rock duo Orbit Shifter.
Chicago based band influenced by 90’s Don Cab, Hella, Piglet, Storm & Stress, and King Crimson.
They’ve played shows with Victor Villarreal, The Para-Medics, and Options, and will be playing shows with the math-rock bands Junior Bob and 100 Ounces in January of 2014.
Their debut EP called Max Headroom is available as a free download on bandcamp – https://orbitshifter.bandcamp.com/.
The recordings are a little fuzzy round the edges but the quality content is all there, with some tappy-guitar goodness and exciting interplay and transitions with the drums.
Download rating: No Brainer, must download!
Brighton collective and record label Sonic Anhedonic have recently released their 2 debut records.
The first coming from Yndi Halda, Bermuda Ern and SASO drummer Oli Newton via the Pseudonym The Lunchtime Sardine Club. Not only a debut for the newly formed label but Icecapades is also the first solo attempt for Oli. The album has a minimal, Lo-Fi feel and sound with some songs stripped down to an acoustic guitar and vocals with others featuring collaborations with friends.
Recorded using all the space a house has to offer, with friends and neighbours over a year and a half, Icecapades is sonically and lyrically dark yet playful, an album which closely ties its subject matter to its sound.
With an album of short stories (the death of a boxer, the sleepy sickness epidemic of the 1920’s, the mysterious dissapearance of three lighthouse keepers, an old womans embalming, murderous distortion) the lunchtime sardine club presents a cohesive album that begs to be listened to from start to finish. Which you can below or here
The other release is also from a Brighton based musician Steven Stride of Crooked Mountain Crooked Sea and Love Among the Mannequins. His solo effort released this week is more stripped down than the LTSC release and has a DIY character which this writer really enjoys. The self-titled album Chalk is available to listen here
There promises to be some great releases via this label such as Bermuda Ern and Eugene Quell coming 2013/14. Have a download of their sampler here
New Jersey’s Front Bottoms have been climbing the indie hierarchy since 2008. Through a cult-like fan base, an abundance of critical reviews, and an extensive touring schedule with bands like Say Anything and Motion City Soundtrack, they finally reached the cusp with their highly anticipated 2013 album Talon of the Hawk.
This album is arriving just in time to push your dumb friends in the pool and rock out to some fun folky, pop-punk. I’m sure the name drops like Say Anything or Motion City Soundtrack may scare off a few of you, but this album easily demolishes your hesitation to dive back into those 8th grade skinny jeans.
Audio Antihero are offering up a free single from their new signing, Los Angeles via Boston via New York artist CLOUD. His richly layered Alt. Pop is fitting in quite nicely with your resident “Specialists in Commercial Suicide”…the “Mother Sea” single is taken from the upcoming ‘Comfort Songs’LP which is due out in August.
The ‘Comfort Songs’ album is an LP of enthralling Alternative Pop which is drunk on optimism yet deep in regret; sonically vast and heavily percussive the album is gorgeously layered with rich piano, violin, gang vocals, trumpet, trombone, piercing guitars and fog thick atmosphere. “Mother Sea” is a perfect introduction to Cloud’s rich textures and desperate torn vocals, thrashing piano and twisting rhythms with the lamentthat “I know it’s not your fault, babe…how beautiful songs get old” leading to a heavenly jam-band climax.
Cloud debuted with Audio Antihero on May’s “REGAL VS STEAMBOAT“ charity compilation for Rape Crisis and his contribution was well received by Indie press and radio, including The Quietus and more.
Artist: Cloud
Title: Mother Sea – single
Label: Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide
Release Date: July 8th 2013 (Bandcamp/iTunes/Spotify/Amazon)
Album Release Date: August 5th 2013
Free Download: http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/album/mother-sea-single
Album Pre-Order: http://audioantihero.bandcamp.com/album/comfort-songs
Facebook: www.facebook.com/musicbycloud
Finally new material from math-rock two-piece Giraffes? Giraffes! in the form of a single song on a 10″ split with Goddard. Although only one song on the release it’s a 10 minute epic guitar and drum battle titled “In the Middle of the Night Someone Tore Off the Ceiling and Sucked Me Into the Sky / Before My Eyes Began to Boil I Saw Billions of Tiny Webs Connecting Everything” try to introduce that on stage, this next song is called…
Stream the new album from Sigur Ros here
New track from Hop Along, Sister Cities, featuring 2/3rds of the now (sadly) extinct Algernon Cadwallader.
Watch this video of recording footage with Frances talking about her and the bands creative process.
Visit this site, to see/read more from this session and even download the stems to create your own mix
Saw George The Poet performing this when I went to Jools Holland earlier this week. It gave me shivers with the line “you got to make it count” and his intellectual and structural cunning around the topical context of “YOLO”.
He’s only 22 and his blend of music and poetic “rap” is different and for me, very enjoyable.
Modern Baseball are a band who’s 4 members are studying at college in Philadelphia, they play 90’s style indie fused with modern lyricism reminiscent of Into It. Over It.
Currently they have an LP, Sport, out now via their bandcamp for a measly $5 (they are poor students and it deserves double that). Released the back end of last year it’s a perfect example of a great debut indie album so have a listen and download it now
Also pick up their other EPs for free from when they were just acoustic guitar and vocals
Icelandic experimental “folktronica” group múm have a new single, “Toothwheel”, from the forthcoming LP. They are also playing in London as part of the Ja Ja Ja Festival at the Roundhouse, celebrating everything Nordic.
Listen to the new single here
Chaotic Manchester Math-rock 2-piece Cleft are heading out on a “disjointed” UK tour over the next few months. They are tight, energetic and bloody loud live so don’t miss out on the chance of a memorable musical evening
James Brown being interviewed on TV clearly high on something
What a legend! (apart from the wife beating obviously)
New Release from Delta Sleep, 6 track album “Management” available via Big Scary Monsters. Also upcoming supporting tour, check out the dates below.
Efterklang are to release a performance of their 4th studio album Piramida. As with Performing Parades it is a live recording with an orchestral accompaniment. I saw the show live at the Barbican in London a couple of months ago and it was bloody marvellous.
The concert that’s being released is a home town performance in Copenhagen, it’s out 10th June.
The Piramida Concert by Efterklang & Copenhagen Phil was recorded live at Copenhagen’s Royal Academy of Music Concert Hall in October 2012. Over the course of two sold-out nights Efterklang – plus Peter Broderick, Katinka Fogh Vindelev and Budgie (Siouxsie and The Banshees) – teamed up with classical orchestra Copenhagen Phil and German conductor André de Ridder to perform the Danish act’s fourth album Piramida in its entirety. Staged for the first time at the Sydney Opera House in May 2012, the orchestral arrangements were written by fellow Dane Karsten Fundal and New York composer Missy Mazzoli. The Piramida Concert also features ‘So’, a song written during recording sessions for Piramida, and ‘Vælv’, a classical piece commissioned by Efterklang and composed by Karsten Fundal. The live performance was mixed to tape by Francesco Donadello in the Vox-Ton studio in Berlin.. The Piramida Concert will only be available digitally and as a limited edition deluxe double gatefold vinyl (one black, one white + CD inside)
Pre-Order here
If you havent’t picked up the new EP from Chicago Heros Their/They’re/There then what are you waiting for? It’s Awesome. Grab it here
Also check out these session videos recorded acoustically (kind of) in the band’s rehearsal space.
If you are sat there wondering “who are Their/They’re/There?” then read this
New single from chaotic instrumentalers Suffer Like G Did
New Track from Love Among The Mannequins called “Joseph Cassel or John Michael Ernahue or God, D-16”
Kent rockers Fish Tank are a young three-piece with a superb EP available as “pay what you like” on their bandcamp. It has Big Scary Monsters written all over this band, think a heavier Tangled Hair, or just listen.
Unsigned Math-rock music at it’s finest, wouldn’t you agree?
Danish Label Father Figure Records, home of Dad Rocks!, have signed duo Suns of Satan. Don’t let the name put you off they are not some (delete where appropriate) death/black/grunge/drone/thrash metal band.
Suns Of Satan is the musical outlet of danish-norwegian composer, singer and percussionist Kristine Bjørg Markussen in collaboration with her husband and multi-instrumentalist Jeppe Søndergård Knudsen. All songs and lyrics are written by Bjørg, and the husband and wife duo produce the music together.
Bjørg grew up listening to cassette tapes her father copied for her. He was living in the other part of the country and saw the tapes as a way to connect with his daughter. Bjørg listened repeatedly to the tapes containing the works of The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix, the latter becoming one of Bjørgs biggest influences. In her teens Bjørg spent time in Western Africa where she studied african traditional percussion and attended witchcraft rituals.
Bjørgs compositions revolve around the dichotomy between life and death, home and away, man and woman, good and evil. On the one hand naivistic but at the same time thoughtful lyrical universe reflects the opposing feelings of losing her mother to cancer at the same time as her second son was born. Hurrying to finish the record before her mother’s passing, Bjørgs music was the last piece of music her mother listened to. Likewise the closing track of the record was played publicly for the first time at Bjørgs mother’s funeral.
More great Math-Rock music from Canada, this time Vancouver based three-piece Yes Bear. Having just played a dream gig with Sargent House Legends TTNG and Tera Melos, Yes Bear seem to have a promising future ahead. Have a listen to the most recent of their 2 fantastic Ep’s “ITEMS” below.
Both “ITEMS” and debut EP “We’re Alive, Let’s High-Five.” are available as “pay what you like” downloads from their bandcamp. I’d advice getting them RIGHT NOW!
Her Stems Spiral is an avant-garde/shoegaze project started by Shannon Lawlor of the Johannesburg based post-rock band Eyes Likes Mirrors. It was created as an entity to explore the realms of experimental and unconventional song-writing.
Dreams, or the unconscious mind played a major role in the development of this release. Lyrics range from stories of the past, to mother nature’s revenge, and even some self-reflection. Shannon’s first effort titled “Princess Poured Out The Pale Winter Moon” was recorded in a small independent studio called MoonSwing, in Johannesburg, South Africa, from mid 2012 – early 2013 using a single condenser microphone, and limited to hardware/software. All vocals and instruments were written and composed on the spot in studio, as an experiment to conduct the relationship between the subconscious subliminal influence and the unconscious fantasies of the mind.
This EP is textual, flowing and if, as claimed, it was written in the studio whilst recording it is not apparent. It seems very well thought out albeit chaotic, I particularly enjoy how most of the tracks fade out in unexpected places. If you don’t watch the play bar (which i didn’t) the end of each track creeps up on you leaving you wanting more.
Give it a listen, a download, a chance, it may not be your thing musically but conceptually it is a uniquely captivating piece of art, which we can all appreciate.
Selectric are a “Sorta mathy, sorta jazzy, sorta funky and sorta not funky” 7-piece from London. They have a 3-track download, recorded by Tom Morley from Suffer Like G Did, on bandcamp. It displays competent song-writing skills combined with great musicianship. There is much to be enjoyed about Selectric with their interesting arrangement and jazzy/mathy approach. Have a listen to this short EP, I’m Watching You and NOT Blinking!, hopefully they’ll be more to come.
See them live at Surya in London 9th May
Dig For the Promise, the new album from The Little unsaid, is out 29th April available to pre-order here. If you can’t wait that long (or will have forgotten) you can listen to the full record below.
He is having an album launch show at St Pancras Old Church in London on 10th May. You can check out the details here: event page here.
You can pre-order sam hodgson’s wonderful (trust me I’ve heard it) debut(ish) album Spin Us Still over on bandcamp here
Appleseed Cast’s new album was released yesterday, but i’ve only had chance just now to post about it. Illumination Ritual can be streamed via pitchfork here
Ikestra have released their debut album through newly formed leeds based label Destroy All Records, also home to Mahogany Hand Glider Who are just about to release a new EP April 29th.
The Weight, The Wolf and The Daughter’ is the second track from ‘The Antelope Sessions’, a series of live performances by ilovecolour.
The Speed of Sound in Seawater have released an acoustic EP to raise funds for a full-length
Oliver Newton’s (Yndi Halda, SASO, Bermuda Ern) solo project
ilovecolour playing Canaan Live from EP the wolf
New track from upcoming Owen album. Bad Blood is taken from Mike Kinsella’s 7th studio album, L’Ami du Peuple, to be released 2/7/13. Which will join an impressive and ever growing diverse back catalog from the Chicago based math rock pioneer.
Iron and Wine‘s 5th studio album, Ghost on Ghost, is released today through 4AD. Far removed from the bedroom recordings of Sam Beam and his acoustic guitar 12 years ago, this album like the previous, Kiss each other clean, has shown musical progression and maturity from the prolific American songwriter. For some reason the embed link isn’t working so you can stream it at this link here. Sam Beam will be taking his 11-piece band on a few UK dates soon, see below.
Chaotic math-rockers ‘Names’ are from Montreal and have shared the stage (and a band member) with fellow city-men and in amongst the clouds favorite Gulfer. The 3-piece have a short EP available at their bandcamp, it’s a rough and raw demo which is pay what you like. However they have a campaign to try and raise enough money to release a full-length, which you can donate to here. The demo promises great things for Names so go and give them some dollar, I’m just about to.
New track from the upcoming samh album, Spin us still, due for release next month
You can find out more here.
I know I’ve been posting a lot of John Smith recently but he’s fucking amazing so no excuses needed. Here is a video of him covering a song which is massively popular on the web right now, Jasmine by Jai Paul. I’ve included the original which is also a great tune.
This is the video for the first single, Salty and Sweet about Johns’ home town in Devon, from the new album Great Lakes
Season 17 Episode 3: D.W gets the Tera Melos Hello Merch LP Bundle pre-order package. Buster gets X’ed Out.
Reblogged from themathrockblog
Listen to the three new tracks from the upcoming album here
London based alternative folk inspired acoustic indie group The Wolf Notes come from all over the the globe, New York via Abu Dhabi and Zurich, to Northern Ireland and France. Songs are scarce, mostly existing in videos of live session performances, they do however have an EP out, Static Bleed, which you can sample below, and a promise of a full length album to be released soon. From what i’ve heard (all available) it sounds like a fusion of Brand New/Taking Back Sunday with Iron and Wine
Chicago experimental math-rockers Brownie Mountain.
Enjoy
Three math-rock heros have come together to form an exciting new group Their/They’re/There. Pioneer Mike Kinsella (Owen, American Football, Cap ‘N’ Jazz), Evan Weiss (Into.Over.It.) and Matthew Frank (Loose Lips Sink Ships) have been promising material for a while and now they finally have something to get our teeth into. Track ‘Concession Speech Writer’ can be heard here, hopefully the upcoming EP (available at RSD april 20) is just as good.
Here’s what Evan Weiss had to say about the project
Stream a new track from Vasco Da Gamma, taken from new EP ‘Geography’ out April 22nd.
It’s called ‘Tonight We Will Eat Something That Has Two Colours In It’ and you can listen to it here
The Yacht Club is the solo effort of Marcus Gooda (Glass Mazes/The Marlows) from London/Norwich. Drawing influence from TTNG, Pennines and Into It Over It he has just released his first attempt at a solo album and pretty damn good is that attempt. Downloads and physical copies are available on bandcamp but the very least you could do is have a listen.
Named after the three headed Hindu god (this is an assumption on my part), Japanese 3-piece Trimutri offer fast paced instrumental music comparable to fellow country men Toe and Lite.
I'm a music enthusiast who enjoys writing, playing and listening to all sorts of aural ventures. Any suggestions or submissions would be appreciated. email: westardwick@hotmail.com
in amongst the clouds 
