Streaming: Whale Fall - Sondersongs

Band: Whale Fall
Album: Sondersongs
Label: Self Released
Year: 2018








Tracklist
01. True Places
02. Decades
03. Asunder
04. Holarctica
05. Cast Against Type
06. Reservoirs
07. El Llanto En Llamas
08. The Sondersong
09. This Cat Has No Moral Compass
10. Blue Hour
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On the third album from Los Angeles-based Whale Fall, the band's sound continues to evolve, embracing tonalities familiar to listeners of their previous work, as well as nods to a wider array of genres and shades of decades past. The tracks on "Sondersongs" — the band's first single LP following two double albums — feature elements of post-rock, dream pop, new wave, psych, folk, indie, solo piano, and classic rock, colliding across 10 cinematic instrumental tracks. 

Recorded in El Sereno with engineer/producer Eric Palmquist (who manned the boards for their debut), "Sondersongs" considers the difference and similarities between each of us: strangers until we aren't; extras in one another's lives or perfect soulmates; the unknown depth of each of us barely sensed until it comes to light unexpectedly. 

As defined by The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, the word "sonder" means: "the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own — populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries, and inherited craziness — an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk"

The ethos of these Sondersongs encompasses stability and change, union and dissolution, each of us holding our own story within us as they collide with the stories of those around us — joining, supporting, breaking away, or tearing apart. The emotional arc of the album evokes the structure, bonds, and divisions between all of us, and ultimately the realization that we all share the same human story at the depth of ourselves. 

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Streaming: Johnnytwentythree - The Bridge

Band: johnnytwentythree
Album: The Bridge
Label: Self Released
Year: 2017







Tracklist
01. Shipwreck
02. Night Of War
03. Dark Of The Sun
04. The Bridge
05. Keys To Freedom
06. To The Fortress
07. In The Master's Throne Room
08. After the End
09. A Good Childhood
10. Last Breath
11. Silent Lord Of Chaos
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It has been just over 5 years since Joe's death. Before that, we had been slowly chipping away at a new Johnnytwentythree album. That album is called The Bridge, and it is now done. 

I feel like Joe would be pretty happy with it. 

The beginnings of the album started out with a song that was written as a reaction to all of us watching a documentary called “The Bridge”. It was a song inspired by the idea of suicide, but also of finding reasons to hold on. 

The album instead has become a memorial to the reality of the life and suicide of our bassist/brother/husband/friend, and father of two little girls. 

It was released on December 23rd. 

You can order it on our bandcamp or iTunes/Amazon Music.

Stephen’s video for the first song of the album, Shipwreck, can be viewed here, with more to come.

Proceeds from the album will be going to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI - https://www.nami.org/). 

The Bridge is intended to be a candle lit for those who are gone, a light for those left. - Michael J23

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Recommendation: BLAK - Between Darkness And Light

Band: BLAK
Album: Between Darkness And Light
Label: Elusive Sound
Year: 2017







Tracklist
01. In The Absence Of Light - Eigengrau
02. Impression Of An Even Deeper Darkness - Illusion
03. Temples Drawn By The Blind - Revelation
04. Black Drips In The Sky - Overwhelming
05. Colors Awake - Perception
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“Between Darkness And Light” is the debut album by Roda de Ter, Catalonia heavy instrumental rock/post-rock band, BLAK.Mixed and mastered by Randy Cordner at Beast Mansion, “Between Darkness And Light” reveals BLAK as a band blessed with an extraordinary ability to create powerfully evocative and stunningly beautiful classical-influenced compositions with haunting atmospherics and an expansive, cinematic sound.

You are in a forest gazing up at the thick whistling and chirping canopy, watching as the sun appears from behind the clouds. You slow your breathing down. You pay attention to the air passing in and out of your lungs and you close your eyes. Everything goes black yet everything comes alive. Your senses are heightened. You listen acutely to every sound close, far, loud and quiet. You smell deeply and differentiate between all the subtle odours. You feel intoxicated by the oxygen-heavy exhalations of the trees as the whispering wind scatters spice-scented decaying leaves like confetti on the path in front of you. You feel the sun’s rays beaming down on you. Your mind feels calm and transparent as the sun’s light enters right through you. There is an explosion of colour and light behind your closed eyes. You are illuminated.

Sometimes you need to hold on to one sense to really start feeling with the others. Attention amplifies sensation. The situation does not change yet how we perceive and experience it does. You need to rise above the noise to take in a view and notice the smallest of details. You need to attentively listen to music or soft spoken words to allow them to reach an emotional level, sparkle the heart and drive your imagination.Only then do they rekindle possibilities. Only then do they fuel your dreams.

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Compilation: Various Artists - Open Language: Volume II

Band: Various Artists
Album: Open Language: Volume II (Side A)
Label: A Thousand Arms
Year: 2017







Tracklist
01. Heron - Shores
02. Vasudeva - Turnstile
03. Shipwreck Karpathos - Bring Down The Sky
04. KYOTY - R
05. Seeress - Attractor
06. Legendary Skies - Beyond The Horizon
07. Sioum - Welcome To New Beginnings And Technological Advancements
08. X SUNS - Twelve Hours
09. Long Hallways - A Butterfly On The Battlefield
10. Ravena - Teraphim
11. Deadhorse - Corruption
12. ARCHIATOR - The Mast
13. HarborLights - And Yet It Moves
14. This Patch Of Sky - Bella Muerte
15. The Mighty Missoula - Regression
16. Outrun The Sunlight - Remaining In A Constant State Of Discomfort
17. From Oceans To Autumn - Arrival
18. Glacier - Though They Be Red Like Crimson, They Shall Be As Wool.
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"Open Language: Volume II [Side A]"is a compilation featuring post-rock bands solely from the United States. 

Band: Various Artists
Album: Open Language: Volume II (Side B)
Label: A Thousand Arms
Year: 2017







Tracklist
01. Sound Architects - Amihan
02. Glasgow Coma Scale - Southern Crosses
03. Run Golden Boys - Aurum
04. NOIR|REVA - Nuance
05. Antethic - Modulor
06. Closet Disco Queen - Délicieux
07. Celestial Wolves - Aeolist, Descend!
08. Black Sails For Red Seas - Silfra
09. Faltre - Riven
10. Astralia - Exhale
11. We Stood Like Kings - Night Owl
12. City By The Sea - Chicago
13. Niño Koi - Nigredo
14. GENA - Past
15. Only Echoes Remain - Distant Echoes
16. The Ills - Laugh Will Tear Us Apart
17. Lazybones Flame Kids - A Ride In An Amusement Park
18. Spruce Trap - Preparing To Leave All This; Preparing To Leave
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"Open Language: Volume II [Side B]"is a compilation featuring post-rock bands from around the world.

Within the A Thousand Arms circle, post-rock has come to be known as “the global scene that acts like a local.” Those working within the genre know that its reach is worldwide, and due to its nature as a largely-instrumental form, boundaries and borders are rendered insignificant. Working within a niche art form necessitates a sense of togetherness, one that forms the bedrock of artist relations.Without language barriers, the music is left to speak for itself, and the translation is universal. Steadying itself on this “open language,”A Thousand Arms has spent the past year and a half dedicating itself to making the world of post-rock a bit smaller, joining bands from all over the map onto free compilation albums and giving them a platform to be discovered and enjoyed by a wider audience. In some cases, this project has even acquainted bands with one another, opening them up to new allies across the world.

In July of 2016, “Open Language: Volume I” debuted, featuring two “sides,” each available for individual download. Side A collected 17American bands, while 17 international artists comprised Side B. Te comp included track premieres by Bright Like the Sun, Ranges,Coastlands and Rhone. Ten, in January 2017, “Hemispheres: Volume I” emerged, using a similar template – this time, Side A featured bands from the Northern Hemisphere, while Side B surveyed the Southern. Track premieres were provided by Au Revoir, Appalaches,Of the Vine, Old Solar, Sleeping Bear, Glories and Into Orbit. Both comps feature artwork by individuals actively working within the post-rock scene – Brian Morgante of Flesh & Bone Design (“Open Language”) and Xavi Forne of Error! Design (“Hemispheres”).

The calendar has come back around and it is time now for “Open Language: Volume II.” Gathering some of their favorite tracks from albums released in the past year, this volume again covers both an American half and an international half. It brings together a large collection of exciting new artists as well as a few long-standing favorites, and features exclusive artwork by LUXINVICTUS. With its fingers placed firmly on the pulse of the global post-rock scene, A Thousand Arms is confident that it is bringing you some of the best that the genre has had to offer in recent months. Of course, this is meant as a vehicle for discovery, and the hope is that it acts as a launching pad for even more joyful exploration. Amongst many great tracks, listeners will find exclusive premieres from LegendarySkies, Deadhorse, KYOTY and We Stood Like Kings. “Open Language, Volume II” is available for free download on A Thousand Arms’ Bandcamp page since Friday, July 28th, 2017. - David Zeidler of Arctic Drones

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Recommendation: Féroces - Victor EP

Band: Féroces
Album: Victor EP
Label: Self Released
Year: 2017








Tracklist
01. Ne Vous Retenez Pas
02. Carole
03. J'attends Qu'il M'arrive Quelque Chose
04. L'odeur Du Cuir
05. Slalomer Entre Les Ivrognes
06. Victor
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Second release (apart from their singles "Donna" and "Sometimes (Jamais On Ne Nous Dit Ces Choses​-​là)") from one of the blog's favorites and Féroces live up to our expectations! An excellent EP from start to finish with their unique french cinematic kind of way!

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The Inquisition: 086.Féroces

1. How did you come up with the name of the band?

Jérôme: When we decided to start this band, we thought of different options: we wanted a French name, as we only use French movie samples, and didn’t want something too obvious regarding the music we play, so we took almost the opposite. Féroces describes something cruel and savage, and while two of us come from the hardcore scene and love to play wild shows, our music is more about something melodic and sweet.

2. Do you have a standard procedure of creating a song? Do you just jam around or is there a main riff and the track is build up on it?

Sébastien: Usually, Jérôme sends me what he calls a song, i.e. hundreds of themes on the guitar with a sample from a movie. Then, I choose the ones I find most interesting, rearrange them to build the structure of the song, add the synthesizers and basic drum parts, and then send it back to the others. Actually, when we first play a song “for real”, it is already close to the final version, we just rearrange transitions, synth levels, etc.

3. What are your influences and what kind of music do you hear when you are at home?

Sébastien: As a recording studio owner, I listen to (mostly) rock music all day long, so at home I’m more into electronic music. One of the last bands I listened to is Tobacco (maybe you can hear the influence of that band on my Donna remix).

Jérôme: I used to play in Emocore bands like Gantz and Hiro, but I can now say that I listen to a wide range of music from hardcore to electronic ambient music. Regarding my influences, I would have to say Slint, Microfilm, Mogwaï, Interpol, Joy Division, Fugazi and Amanda Woodward.

François: I listen to pretty much all kinds of music just to discover new stuff but I like rhythmical music with drummers playing creative fills (Interpol, Foals). I recently discovered a French band called Totorro and I love their style.

4. Which is the one album you can't live without?

Sébastien: Nine Inch Nails “The Fragile”

Jérôme: Slint “Spiderland”

François: Interpol “Turn On The Bright Lights”

5. What's the first record you've ever bought?

Sébastien: Michael Jackson’s Bad (and I’m not ashamed of it)

Jérôme: Kylie Minogue’s Locomotion (and I’m really proud of it)

François: Bryan Adams’ Waking Up the Neighbours (sorry guys)

6. Name a band that you would like to share the stage or tour with?

Jérôme: I would love to play with Nirvana one day.

7. Did the internet and specially the blogs helped to spread your music around the world? Name a place (country) that you were surprised to know your music has reached to?

Sébastien: Thanks to Youtube, one of our song has been played more than 20,000 times in Greece. It appears that it’s been added to a very popular Greek playlist. I would really like to go play there!

Jérôme: We promote our music by ourselves, and many people help us spread the word, via social networks. In fact, blogs and online communities have made us into what we are today.

8. Do you support the idea of bandcamp where fans can decide the price or services like Spotify?

Sébastien: We are on both services, and it’s been very pleasant to see that most of our fans are willing to pay more than what we ask for! But despite thinking that what Spotify and the other streaming platforms give back to the artists is quite ridiculous, we cannot, as a new band, decide that we won’t be available there…

9. Where do you see yourselves in 10 years?

Jérôme: Dead and buried

Sébastien: More seriously, if Jérôme starts exercising, we could definitely be playing “Même ça tu n’as pas le courage” :)

10. Is the artwork of an album important nowadays in the digital era?

Jérôme: Sure, we spend a lot of time talking about the artwork. The harmonization of the music and the image must be coherent.

François: Also, some people like to buy vinyls just to have the artwork in a decent size and they keep listening to the digital albums.

11. What is your favorite album cover?

Jérôme: I would say “Unknown pleasures” by Joy Division, so many people around the world know these mountains, I got them tattooed on the top of my left arm.

François: I find the cover of “Is this It” by The Strokes very pleasant to look at.

12. It seems that a lot of people are turning on vinyl again. Why do you think that is and which is your preferable media format?

Jérôme: Actually, a lot of people listen to random music, in random mode, during their random lives, and I’m one random guy living in a random world. When you choose vinyl, you decide, you take the power back.

Sébastien: The process of listening to music is different depending on the media. I think listening to a vinyl is a more conscious action because you will most likely listen to the whole album, and not just a single that is part of a compilation. The object itself is also very different, and needs care. And there is a huge difference in terms of sound, the vinyl is always less compressed, subtler, more musical than CDs and other digital formats.

13. What's the most vivid story or moment as a band?

Jérôme: Each live show is special, sometimes I can forget where I am, who I am, what I do and forget. Only music and love can do this to me, this sensation is a drug and I would like to feel it every day.

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Streaming: Lights & Motion - Dear Avalanche

Band: Lights & Motion
Album: Dear Avalanche
Label: Deep Elm Records
Year: 2017








Tracklist
01. This Explosion Within
02. Feathers
03. Silver Lining
04. Anomaly
05. Pandora
06. Perfect Symmetry
07. Everest
08. Lucid Dreaming
09. DNA
10. Anamorphic
11. Exhale
12. As They Sleep
13. All The Way
14. We Only Have Forever
Streaming / Buy

The latest offering in a discography often described as the ultimate symmetry of music and emotion, Dear Avalanche is the most accomplished and fully realized expression of sounds to date from cinematic post-rock powerhouse Lights & Motion. Although many claim he is a magician, the band's braintrust, Christoffer Franzen, is a storyteller...and a masterful one at that. From the majestic climax of "This Explosion Within" to the hopeful build of "Silver Lining" to the delicate innocence of "Anomaly", every Lights & Motion track tells its own story by transporting the listener through tenor and tone to a place where anything and everything is possible. This astonishing interplay of soul and sound is truly a work of art as it connects with the listener in a way that transcends the music itself. Franzen's ability to elicit emotion on a universal level and touch the heart without words, is simply beyond the limits of all imagination. With this expertly crafted collection of rich new soundscapes, Lights & Motion not only again delivers but also elevates the architecture of cinematic post-rock to awe-inspiring new heights. 

"I can safely say that this album was a big challenge and undertaking for me. I spent roughly two years writing it, and in that time I experimented a lot with trying to push myself outside of my comfort zone. By the end of it, I had written more than twenty-five songs and from them I chose fourteen to be featured on the album. I did things that I have never attempted before, such as recording a ten piece choir and incorporating a lot of vintage synthesizer sounds and electronics. I was determined to find new areas of my music that I hadn’t discovered, and looking back I think I did just that. The album is filled with lots of different textures that I created, like running choirs through distorted guitar amps or taking beautiful string recordings and processing them to sound otherworldly and ethereal. Every song brought with it a large canvas which I filled with interesting new sounds to help bring each composition to life," says Franzen. 

Franzen continues, "The album title just came to me and I instantly connected with it. While it may sound paradoxical because an avalanche is so dangerous, it reminds me that there is always a precious silver lining in everything that happens. Events in your life will threaten to overpower you, but there is strength in facing them head on, accepting them for what they are and choosing always to look for the positive message in all the hardship and struggle. I hope people listening to this album will feel like they've been taken on a journey, as I worked hard at creating a world of sonic panoramas to get lost in. Looking back, I think this is my most diverse album to date. The melodies are still very much present, but the sonic identities change as the album ebbs and flows. For me, the experience of making albums is a very solitary one. For several years I have lived with these songs, first in my head and then in my hands. Now I am ready to release them into the world. Getting to share them with everyone is the ultimate payoff after all this work, and one I'm really looking forward to." 

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The Inquisition: 085.My Education

1. How did you came up with the name of the band? ​

Scott Telles (bass): It's a William Burroughs book. A compilation of his dreams.​

2. Do you have a standard procedure of creating a song? Do you just jam around or is there a main riff and the track is build up on it? ​

Scott: Somebody brings in a riff, an idea or a song, and the rest of it beat it, cajole it, threaten it, and stomp on it until it cries out "Uncle!" and becomes a My Education song.​

3. What are your influences and what kind of music do you hear when you are at home? ​

Scott: We all have large record collections and we all listen to a huge variety of music. Speaking personally, right now I'm going through a Cannonball Adderly and Martinis phase! But you can find us listening to everything from Arvo Part to Brian Eno, Cam'ron and Wolves In The Throne Room.​

4. Which is the one album you can't live without?

James Alexander (viola): Stranded by Roxy Music. ​ 

Scott: The Saga of Doremi Fasol Latido by Hawkwind​

5. What's the first record you've ever bought?

James: A 45 of a song called “Bad Blood” by Neil Sedaka. I have no idea why. 

Scott: I ordered a bunch of records from one of those Columbia House ​offers. I can't remember them all, but I know I got the first Boston album and "Leftoverture" by Kansas. Hells yeah!

6. Name a band that you would like to share the stage or tour with?

James: Current band? Goat. 

Scott: Ash Ra Tempel.​

7. Did the internet and specially the blogs helped to spread your music around the world? Name a place (country) that you were surprised to know your music has reached to?

James: Absolutely, and conversely we find out about so much great stuff from other parts of the world in the same way. Lately someone in Malaysia has been streaming some of our stuff.

8. Do you support the idea of bandcamp where fans can decide the price or services like Spotify? 

James: I think you don’t really have a choice anymore. It would be nice if Spotify was more lucrative for musicians and bands on our end of the popularity scale, though. ​

Scott: I agree. We have never really seen any income from Spotify, but we make money from bandcamp all the time.​

9. Where do you see yourselves in 10 years? 

James: I hope I’m still playing and recording music. I think it would be great if there were still a version of My Education to make music with, but I’ll settle for just being alive and healthy enough to play. ​

Scott: Can I quit my day job now?​

10. Is the artwork of an album important nowadays in the digital era?

James: That’s a good question. I used to scrutinize album covers for all the names, iconography, arcane symbols and so on. Then CDs came along, and I’d crack open the booklet inside and see if there was anything interesting, but the cover art was so small it lost significance. The only physical media I buy anymore is vinyl records, and I don’t know that the artwork really matters much to me anymore. I’m more interested in the quality of the vinyl. And if it’s something I am streaming, I probably never even see the artwork. Regardless, I guess I still think if you are releasing music as an album – no matter what the format – there should still be art and that art is still important whether anyone sees it or not. 

Scott: And let's not forget about the credits. I gotta have the liner notes and credits. I'm an obsessive with my favorite artists, and I like to read who played what, who produced, etc etc.​

11. What is you favorite album cover?

James: Henry Cow’s “Legend”. Of the three Henry Cow ‘sock’ covers, I think this sock most perfectly conveys the quintessence of the material within.

Scott: Matching Mole - Little Red Record - just brilliant.​

12. It seems that a lot of people are turning on vinyl again. Why do you think that is and which is your preferable media format?

James: vinyl all the way. My father loved vinyl records (he had a particular fondness for Greek artists Vangelis and Nana Mouskouri!) and he played them all the time. He built his own phono preamp and integrated amplifier. Whether it’s real or imaginary, nothing sounds better to my ears than a good vinyl record played on a proper setup. In the digital age there’s ever less and less that is real and intrinsic that we can hold onto anymore. The restrictions of the vinyl format do a couple of things as well - they force you to sit down and actually listen instead of just having music serve as background for your workout or whatever; and it forces the artist to really consider what is essential and that can fit into a 45 minute time block with a break directly in the middle. ​

Scott: I listen to vinyl a LOT, es​pecially at home, but much of my most serious listening is done in the car on the CD player in traffic where I have almost no distractions. Then again, I still have a cassette deck in the van as well, so I'm omnivorous!

13. What's the most vivid story or moment as a band?

​Scott: Playing our score for "Sunrise" outdoors on a giant inflatable screen smack in the middle of downtown Houston with the skyline all around us was pretty awesome. Dunk! Fest in Belgium was amazing - in fact, our whole 21 show European tour in 2013 is one of the highlights of my life!

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Recommendation: Third Meridian - Polarity

Band: Third Meridian
Album: Polarity
Label: Self Released
Year: 2017







Tracklist
01. 3°W
02. Heroes
03. Darkside
04. [K]night Is Over
05. Tyr Island
06. The Last Escape
07. Moonlight Drive
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Third Meridian, it's an immersive dive into a cinematic universe where the association of sound and video will lead you straight to the euphoria.

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Streaming: Where The Good Way Lies - Nineteen Fourteen

Band: Where The Good Way Lies
Album: Nineteen Fourteen
Label: Self Released
Year: 2016








Tracklist
01. Dusk Gives Way
02. Shadows March
03. A Faint Small Spark
04. Hope Unfolds
05. Restless Slumber
06. Dawn's First Light
07. Reveal the Path
08. Guide Our Feet
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Where The Good Way Lies is the musical project of Fort Collins, CO resident, Vince Rogers and is a unique blend of ambient soundscapes, melodic post-rock, and cinematic composition.

Though dusk gives way to tides of night

And shadows march on fading light

A faint small spark brings forth a glow

To remind the faithful that hope unfolds

And as we settle into restless slumber

Dawn's first light reaches down to comfort

To reveal the path and grace the sky

And Guide Our Feet to Where the Good Way Lies

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EP: All Shall Be Well (And All Shall Be Well And All Manner Of Things Shall Be Well) - GEELZWART

Band: All Shall Be Well
Album: GEELZWART EP
Label: Self Released
Year: 2016








Tracklist
01. Beethoven’s ‘Moonlight Sonata’, Reimagined
02. Grieg’s ‘Ases Tod’, Reimagined
03. Satie’s ‘Gymnopedie No. 1’, Reimagined
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All Shall Be Well from Haarlem, the Netherlands make instrumental, cinematic music. They build on themes, thresh out their melodies and look for unsuspected harmonies. Their music is highly associative; they liken their music to stories rather than songs.

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Streaming: Féroces - Juliette EP

Band: Féroces
Album: Juliette EP
Label: Self Released
Year: 2016








Tracklist
01. Même Ça Tu N'as Pas Le Courage
02. Juliette
03. Tout Est Beau
04. N'ayez Pas Peur J'ai L'habitude
05. Je Veux Pas Mourir Avant D'être Morte
Streaming | Spotify | Deezer

Féroces is a post-rock trio from Besançon, France. They combine cinematic dialogues on their melodies and the result is mindblowing!

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Album: Brad Couture - Laval

Band: Brad Couture
Album: Laval
Label: Self Released
Year: 2016








Tracklist
01. Sunlit
02. Midnight From An Airplane Window
03. Alive With Possibility
04. A Solemn Memory
05. Shimmer And Float
06. Clarity In The Aftermath
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"Hey, I'm Brad Couture. I'm a composer based out of New Hampshire. I also write/record music under the name Sleevenotes. 

My relationship with music began at the age of six in front of an old spinet piano. I quickly discovered that I preferred to play anything except whatever sheet music was placed in front of me. There was this whole world of possibility existing outside the page, and I was eager to explore it. Over time, I discovered the world of recording arts, and dove into recording my music for more than just my friends and family to hear. 

The music I write is the culmination of my frustrations, daydreams, melancholy and joy. Each song and melody carries a piece of my life with it. I hope to connect with other people emotionally through my music - maybe they too, have felt what I have.

Life moves us all in different ways. It moves me to write music." - Brad Couture

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EP: Eloi Casellas & BLAK - Vostok (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Band: Eloi Casellas & BLAK
Album: Vostok (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) EP
Label: Self Released
Year: 2015







Tracklist
01. BLAK - Vostok
02. Eloi Casellas - Zarya3
03. Eloi Casellas - Irina
04. Eloi Casellas - Nikolai
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BLAK and Eloi Casellas (a band member of BLAK) partnered to write the soundtrack for the motion picture "Vostok". BLAK's track with the self titled name is an amazing instrumental post-rock composition, influenced by the early Mono tracks. Eloi Casellas completes this beautiful soundtrack contributing 3, more ambient oriented, instrumental tracks. The only downside is that the EP has a running time of approximately 18 minutes. Well there is always the repeat button...

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Streaming: Brad Couture - Groundclouds EP

Band: Brad Couture
Album: Groundclouds EP
Label: Self Released
Year: 2016








Tracklist
01. Minutes Before Daybreak
02. As The Fog Clears
03. We Rise
04. No Longer Colorblind
Streaming / Buy

"Hey, I'm Brad Couture. I'm a composer based out of Manchester, NH. I also write/record music under the name Sleevenotes.

My relationship with music began at the age of six in front of an old spinet piano. I quickly discovered that I preferred to play anything except whatever sheet music was placed in front of me. There was this whole world of possibility existing outside the page, and I was eager to explore it. Over time, I discovered the world of recording arts, and dove into recording my music for more than just my friends and family to hear.

The music I write is the culmination of my frustrations, daydreams, melancholy and joy. Each song and melody carries a piece of my life with it. I hope to connect with other people emotionally through my music - maybe they too, have felt what I have.

Life moves us all in different ways. It moves me to write music." - Brad

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Album: Inward Oceans - Paths From Home

Band: Inward Oceans
Album: Paths From Home
Label: Deep Elm Records
Year: 2015








Tracklist
01. Paths From Home
02. Homecoming
03. Distant Lights
04. Amelioration
05. Consequences
06. A Road Inside
07. Field Of White
08. Sisters
09. Skydancer
10. Saved
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Inward Oceans is a post-rock band from Vancouver, Canada.

Beautifully moving from start to finish, "Paths From Home" is a powerful yet delicate masterwork of cinematic proportion. But unlike most other post-rock outfits, Inward Oceans uses piano rather than guitars to facilitate rhythm, timbre and texture. Displaying a well-refined ability to elicit emotion with the seemingly simplest of notes and chord progressions, each track on this phenomenal debut tells a mesmerizing story that unfolds organically in your ears. But make no mistake, songcrafting at this level requires rarefied talent. Combining just the right amount of ambient, tonal and spatial elements to the resonating strings creates a sonic depth experience worthy of headphone listening. An album about finding the place where you know you are meant to be, whether that's in your head, your heart or your home, "Paths From Home" is a dramatic journey of the senses. This is music that humbles you and connects you to an awareness of inner emotion.

“I wrote part of the arrangements in the living room on an old family piano. I got scratch tracks down as I watched out the front window. The river valley descends down from the front of the house and the autumn weather had set in. Although across the river the ground is constantly being torn up by heavy industry vehicles, there's a significant amount of greenery surrounding the waste they leave. It creates this sort of marred beauty that I've grown incredibly attached to over the years. As I watched my daughters play in the front room together and heard the sounds of a meal being prepared in the kitchen, I let the moment sink deep in to my heart. I honestly didn't know what I would play when I put my fingers to the keys, but every time, without fail, a melody unique to my ears, came forth. It felt as if a soundtrack was playing through me. Nearly all our songs were birthed in this manner. It is my hope that others will be moved by these themes to life, drawing their attention internally as they come to appreciate their own connectivity to this world of ours,” says pianist and percussionist Bobby Kuhl.

Bassist and guitarist Justin Carter continues, “Paths From Home is unique in how it was recorded. We took our recording microphones into the community. Five separate recording scenarios were used throughout the album, from outdoor set-ups, to an old vintage piano in a vintage home, to the more traditional soundproof studio room. We also used one of the outdoor pianos that Vancouverites have placed in and around in city. This same piano has been used by great recording artists such as Juno Award winner Murray Porter and Keys to the Streets. With piano based music, we find it’s often either very classical sounding (with no effects) or heavily effected. We wanted to find balance between the two. Our inspiration comes from special moments in time, nature and the city skyline at night. It’s those moments when you're removed from the business of life and able to breathe and reflect. This is the place where we want to take listeners with our music.”

“Our name is both delicate and strong. ‘Ocean’ describes this idea well, and in the literal sense was meaningful as we all came to Vancouver to be closer to the ocean. It brought us together in a way. ‘Inward’ describes the reflective, emotional tone of our music. It describes the thoughts and feelings that we hold, sometimes very deep, within ourselves. This is where our music is born...from introspection and contemplative thought about our experiences. The human experience creates a vast ocean within, so to speak, made up of feelings, thoughts, and memories. These deep aspects of ourselves often need to be rustled out. Here we chose song to make that happen. We chose the cover photo because it represents the vision of our band. To use a metaphor, the glacier represents the emotions, thoughts, and feelings that are often frozen up inside of us. The sun represents music. Music can melt frozen emotions into a moving, life-giving force. Music allows us to feel things we wouldn’t have otherwise felt. That has always been the goal of our writing,” says Bobby.

For fans of Lights & Motion, U137, Carly Comando, Hammock, Helios, Sigur Ros.

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Video: Lights & Motion - Paper Wings

EP: Martyn Jackson - Figure In The Snow

Band: Martyn Jackson
Album: Figure In The Snow EP
Label: Self Released
Year: 2015








Tracklist
01. Prologue
02. Figure In The Snow
03. Erika Strikes Back
04. This Was Once A Great City
05. Mother (I Won't Be Around Forever)
06. Marching On Scorched Earth
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Martyn Jackson is a Bristol, UK based musician and composer.

“Figure In The Snow” is a 6 track EP of cinematic orchestral music. Jackson's  previous releases to date (“The People We Used To Be” and “Home”) have been instrumental post-rock, but for this release he decided to write in the style of music that first inspired him to compose. He has drawn influences from composers such as Nobuo Uematsu (Final Fantasy), Jeremy Zuckerman (Avatar: The Last Airbender, Legend Of Korra), and Michael Giacchino (Lost). This EP was written and produced by Martyn Jackson.

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The Inquisition: 058.Dumbsaint

1. How did you came up with the name of the band?

Actually I joined the band in 2012, well after it started in 2009. I can tell you what the name doesn’t stand for: it’s not about religion. I think it’s just something that sounds good and isn’t too hard to say ;)

2. Do you have a standard procedure of creating a song? Do you just jam around or is there a main riff and the track is build up on it?

There definitely isn’t a standard procedure, but a lot of the material on our newest album "Panorama, In Ten Pieces" came from the band jamming together in the rehearsal space. For a typical track, we pore over hours of recorded material and pick out the most interesting moments. From there, we start to play with possible arrangements, both in the room as a group and by ourselves on our computers. “These two riffs sound good together: we could try going from here to there”. See what kinds of passages we come up with. On this album we made a concerted effort to try more diverse arrangements. Instead of each track relying on a “self-contained build up to a crescendo and release”, we tried to link tracks together and threw a few unexpected twists and turns in, to keep things interesting.

3. What are your influences and what kind of music do you hear when you are at home?

The band has a diverse range of influences, but we all love great songwriting and music that you can get lost in. For example we’re big fans of film scores and soundtracks. David Lynch and Angelo Badalamenti do a fantastic job of setting the mood in a particular film scene.In terms of bands, we all grew up as kids in the 80-90s, so there’s a common element of influence from the alternative rock scene then. But lately we’re listening to shoegaze, black metal, doom, post-rock, jazz… amongst many other genres.

4. Which is the one album you can't live without?

Personally, I don’t think I could live without Panopticon by Isis. I have a lot of favourite albums, but if I had to pick one, that’d be it.

5. What's the first record you've ever bought?

Well, it’s pretty hard to remember that far back. I remember copying a lot of music from friends on tape, or borrowing my sister’s music. We were big on Nirvana and The Offspring back then, so it was probably Bleach or Smash.

6. Name a band that you would like to share the stage or tour with?

Mogwai would be pretty amazing.

7. Did the internet and specially the blogs helped to spread your music around the world? Name a place (country) that you were surprised to know your music has reached to?

We’ve not yet had the opportunity to play outside of Australia, so the internet has been the only way for us to make a name for ourselves internationally. Blogs such as yours, Heavy Blog Is Heavy, Arctic Drones and Nowlikephotographs have been great places for fans to find us, and even for us to find new music!According to our Bandcamp stats, we’ve got fans in Ecuador, Syria, Vietnam and Brazil… which is pretty great!

8. Do you support the idea of bandcamp where fans can decide the price or services like Spotify?

I’m a fan of Bandcamp. In today’s digital world there’s a ton of ways for musicians to have their music heard and bought, but I think Bandcamp brings a bit of standardisation and legitimacy to the DIY option that a lot of bands use (out of necessity or otherwise). I think they do a decent job of helping musicians sell their art. Spotify on the other hand is all about giving the listener what they want at the cheapest possible price, and that’s something I struggle with. When you read about the very small amounts of revenue that well-known artists receive, it doesn’t warm your heart that this is a good thing for independent artists like us.

9. Where do you see yourselves in 5 years?

Still making music and films in some shape or form! Probably with less hair on our heads and more on our chins.

10. Is the artwork of an album important nowadays in the digital era?

To us, definitely! Because we like to tell stories through music and film, the album artwork plays an important role in bridging those media. We like our works to be a complete package; even if the artwork only shows up briefly on someone’s phone or screensaver, we still make the effort.

11. What is your favorite album cover?

Perhaps Undertow by Tool, or a three-way tie between De-Loused In The Comatorium, Frances The Mute and Amputechture by The Mars Volta.

 

12. It seems that a lot of people are turning on vinyl again. Why do you think that is and which is your preferable media format?

There’s a lot of people who are probably into vinyl because it’s a nice collectable item. We certainly like that aspect to it, and that’s part of the reason why we’ve opted to release our new album on vinyl. But further to your question about the relevance of artwork in the digital world, we like what the vinyl package offers the listener: a larger-scale physical production of the art. Something that you can hold and look at, and has weight to it.

13. What's the most vivid story or moment as a band?

Probably the recording experience for our latest album. For a good portion of the recording, we shacked up in a cottage in the forest with our producer Dax Liniere. For those 6 days we were all focused on the one goal, and that was what we did for all of our waking hours. It was a really immersive experience and I’m really proud of what we achieved during that time.

Dumbsaint's new album "Panorama, In Ten Pieces" ​will be released on August 7 on LP, CD and digital formats in Australia through Bird's Robe Records and Art As Catharsis Records, with a limited cassette tape release through Grimoire Cassette Cvlture.

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Album: Christoffer Franzen [of Lights & Motion] - Music for Film & Television, Vol. 1

Band: Christoffer Franzen
Album: Music for Film & Television, Vol. 1
Label: Deep Elm Records
Year: 2015







Tracklist
01. Hope
02. Bravery
03. Discovering Mathematics
04. Homebound
05. A Beautiful Tragedy
06. The Fallen
07. Willow
08. The Chase
09. Rover
10. Teardrop
11. Home, Part 2
12. Dreamweaver
13. Profound
14. Compass
15. Sunshine
16. Phobia
17. Solaris
18. Rise
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The new collection Music for Film & Television, Vol. 1 by acclaimed composer Christoffer Franzen, the sonic architect behind cinematic post-rock powerhouse Lights & Motion, need not be explained...it simply needs to be heard. Having released three full-length albums including the debut Reanimation (Jan 2013), Save Your Heart (Nov 2013) and most recently Chronicle (Jan 2015) under the Lights & Motion moniker to widespread fan, media and industry attention, Christoffer is now making these 18 beautifully composed tracks available to the world. Each individual song is the direct result of his creative prowess crossing paths with a moment of inspiration during the wee morning hours in a small, dimly lit, snow-covered studio in Gothenburg, Sweden. This is where the magic happens. The Film & Television collection is destined to be a "go to" series for filmmakers, cinematographers and videographers who demand that the music which accompanies their projects stands out, gets recognized and most important, is remembered. This is a new resource for cutting-edge creatives who understand that the music and visuals share the stage equally and recognize that just a few of the right notes can dramatically influence the success of any project.

"As a composer, I challenge myself to write in different styles and genres. Not only is it rewarding, but I think it's necessary in order to stay on top of my game. Composers often become known for a specific sound…it becomes 'their thing’. I'm working hard to make sure that I never get boxed in like that. It's important for me to keep pushing myself, gaining new perspectives and developing my very own musical language that spans across different genres and styles. I truly feel grateful to be able to write music, express my feelings and connect with others through sound. So I'm not wasting one second," says Franzen.

Franzen continues, "Music is a pure, free form of expression, and that's why I write about what I am feeling at the time, irregardless of how it may translate sonically. This collection of songs is just that - an expression of who I am, and how I felt, at a specific moment in time. I consider this collection to be an outlet to compose in any style I choose to experiment with, while at the same time learning, improving and raising the bar for myself as I go. That might translate into a simple, soft piano piece or a massive arrangement for an entire orchestra. It could range from being very sparse to not holding anything back. Many of my compositions are inspired by cinema and the films and television shows I love (to be honest, I'm a bit of an addict), how they affected me and what kinds of sounds I hear when I think about them. Often in the middle of watching a really good film or show, I hit pause, put on my shoes, grab a taxi and go to the studio to work. I haven't slept well in three years."

"Each song, whether it's a Christoffer Franzen track or a Lights & Motion track, is born from visualizations that accompany each piece as I write it. I create small stories and visual narratives in my head, which helps me shape and mould the track to mirror the emotion I'm building, shaping and translating into sound. These songs give you a glimpse into my head, and a clue as to what inspires me. There is a scene from one of my favorite films, Into The Wild, where Christopher McCandless pens 'Happiness Only Real When Shared.' This pretty much sums up how I feel about music. There is nothing I value more than the privilege of sharing what I create with others. If you listen closely, you'll understand why I decided to start writing music in the first place," adds Franzen.

For fans of M83 and Hans Zimmer.

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