Caspian - Waking Season

In recent years, post-rock has become somewhat stale and every time I turn around, there seems to be another Mogwai or Explosions In The Sky clone popping up. In 2009, Beverly, Massachusetts post-rockers Caspian released their second full-length album Tertia, which was an album that brought a completely new feel to the genre, but just didn't receive any of the recognition that it deserved. Tertia was a groundbreaking album that should have put Caspian on the map right next to post-rock pioneers Mogwai and Explosions In The Sky, but the album didn't receive much attention, which is essentially what held the band back. All of this has changed, however, with the release of Caspian's newest effort Waking Season, which was released this past Tuesday, September 25th, 2012 through Triple Crown Records.

On previous Caspian records, the band called all of the shots when it came to recording and mixing. On Waking Season, however, the band recruited the notable and legendary Matt Bayles (Isis, Minus The Bear, Russian Circles) to mix the final product. Caspian's music has improved significantly since Tertia, but the most noticeable improvement is in the production on Waking Season. Caspian has never sounded better, clearer, or more mature since their formation in Autumn of 2003. While some of this epic sound can be praised due to Matt Bayles' skills, the majority of it comes from a band that has continued to mature throughout their nine years of existence.

Waking Season is, without a doubt, a mature and patient album. Caspian focused much of their attention on patiently crafting Waking Season. They've developed and perfected the slow-build dynamics, patiently layering the highs and lows of their instrumentation. The steady and patient builds are what make the album's crescendos hit harder than ever. This patience in song development is best displayed in 'Gone In Bloom And Bough', a ten minute track that is positive, haunting, heartfelt, subtle, consistent, and most definitely heavy. While listening to this track, I began to notice chills forming on both of my arms and thought to myself, "this is truly uplifting and heartfelt music if it is touching me so heavily...heavily enough to send chills up my arms".

The quality of instrumentation on Waking Season is outstanding and contains some of the best sounds that I have heard in years, not only in post-rock, but in all genres. Waking Season also contains many more advanced sounds and techniques than previous Caspian efforts, including drum and vocal samples, organic ambiance, acoustic arpeggios, and classical ambient piano arrangements. Tracks like 'Akiko' and 'Halls Of The Summer' contain very trance-like loops and industrial drum beats, while the second track 'Procellous' contains a live string quartet. All in all, this album is absolutely beautiful. Caspian are currently at the top of the genre and definitely pushing the boundaries of post-rock. They were not afraid to branch out from the ordinary on Waking Season, and this is one of the many reasons why it is one of the best records of 2012.

Stream Caspian's Waking Season in its entirety here:

http://www.spin.com/#articles/caspian-waking-season-full-album-stream





Pray For Sound - Monophonic

Massachusetts based Pray For Sound is a solo post-rock project that was started by Bruce Malley in 2011. After a great amount of time was spent searching and struggling to find musicians serious enough to help develop the project, Malley decided to go at it alone. Fast forward to about one year later and Pray For Sound's debut album, Monophonic, will finally be released on September 25th, 2012.

Pray For Sound's Monophonic was inspired by Malley's struggle with hearing loss and is composed of five tracks that take the listener on an emotional adventure. In 2005, doctors found a destructive and dangerous cyst called a cholesteatoma growing inside of Malley's left ear. Although doctors surgically removed the cyst and reconstructed Malley's ear, he was left with severe hearing loss, tinnitus, and reoccurring ear pain. This emotional journey is what made up the underlying theme for Monophonic and inspired Malley to follow through with his dream.

Malley's mission is that no one should ever give up and will passionately pursue their dreams, no matter what hurdles are thrown at them. He never gave up, even after such an emotionally tragic experience, and he has created a truly inspiring post-rock album, from start to finish. There is still hope around every corner, and one place that you will find this hope is on Pray For Sound's Monophonic.

Listen to Pray For Sound's Monophonic here:
http://prayforsound.bandcamp.com/

Dedleaves - Dedleaves

Dedleaves are a four piece instrumental rock band hailing from the outskirts of Baltimore, Maryland. Their self-titled debut LP was recorded, mixed, and mastered in one month and released on August 20, 2012. The band consists of Michael Gugliotti and Greg Lewis on guitars, Adam Segal on bass, and Shane Stanton on drums/percussion. The entire LP was written and recorded by the band themselves and produced by drummer Shane Stanton.

On their debut LP, Dedleaves covers a wide variety of sounds and these sounds definitely speak to the listener emotionally. A great amount of heart and passion can be heard throughout this album, especially in the complex, melodic guitar tones, as well as in the irregular time signatures. Dedleaves have proven themselves as true instrumentalists on this debut LP and I cannot wait to hear what they come up with next.

You can listen to Dedleaves self-titled debut LP here:

http://dedleaves.bandcamp.com/

Favorite Albums of 2012 (Part One of Three)

The New Law - The Fifty Year Storm The New Law's 2012 release The Fifty Year Storm is one of the best instrumental hip-hop albums that I have heard in quite some time. The album takes the listener on an adventure of cinematic soundscapes, beats, electronics, and horns, and remains this way throughout its entirety. I would say it sounds very similar to DJ Shadow meets post-rock meets ambient. As a fan of hip-hop and post-rock/ambient, The New Law's The Fifty Year Storm is hard for me to not listen to every day, even though I have been listening to it since it came out in January.

The Invisible - Rispah The first two things that came to mind when listening to The Invisible's Rispah was Nine Inch Nails' song structure and Radiohead's vocals. While obviously being a fan of these two acts, I was bound to like Rispah. Well guess what? I did, and still do. The Invisible combine a variety of different styles on Rispah including afrobeat, industrial, jazz, and electronica. The Invisible have discovered undiscovered territories on Rispah, and this groundbreaking sound is something this trio can call their own.

Thavius Beck - The Heavens Bleed Sunshine Thavius Beck has been and always will be one of my favorite rappers/producers. His newest offering The Heavens Bleed Sunshine is comprised of five instrumental tracks that range from hip-hop and electro to jazz and classical. Thavius Beck has always been a master of his craft and The Heavens Bleed Sunshine gives the listener a nice sample of what is to come on Beck's upcoming full-length The Most Beautiful Ugly, which is due out this fall.

Ab-Soul - Control System Top Dawg Ent. rapper Ab-Soul might have been the last member of Black Hippy to release a full-length, but he makes up for this by putting himself on the top with the release of Control System. Ab-Soul is not just some rapper that is going to be in the limelight for a minute and then disappear. Instead, I feel like Ab-Soul is going to gain the type of respect that 90's rappers like Dr. Dre, Tupac, and B.I.G. gained. Ab-Soul's Control System is the true return of 90's rap and since its release, rap is stale no longer.

Ancients - Star Showers On The Euphrates Ancients is a new group that is made up of certain members of UK acts Rinoa and *Shels. Star Showers On The Euphrates is a post-rock album with vocals. Did I say a post-rock album with vocals? I absolutely did, and many post-rock fans are quick to blow vocals off. However, the vocals on this album don't stand out as much as other vocals, but instead act more like an additional instrument. The vocals give the already beautiful instrumental peaks more sonic beauty. Ancients Star Showers On The Euphrates bridges the gap between Sigur Ros-esque ambiance and Caspian style guitar work/instrumentals, but with a very unique atmospheric production. Ancients may very well be one of the next best things in post-rock with the release of Star Showers On The Euphrates. I believe it and I'm sure you will too. This album is pure, atmospheric gold.

Bitcrush - In Distance

I have always had a love for electronic/ambient and post-rock music. Sometimes so much, that I passionately search for artists that combine these two styles. If done right, there is so much depth and emotion behind each genre, so combing the two would be like a piece of heaven for me. Bitcrush provides this heaven, and he does it well.

After the San Francisco based electronic, post-industrial group Gridlock disbanded on March 24, 2005, member Mike Cadoo began working on his solo project Bitcrush. While Gridlock relied heavily on electronics, Bitcrush focuses more on the unique blend of electronics and live instruments such as guitars and drums. If there was an easy description for Bitcrush's music, I would say it is almost like a mix between Gridlock and post-rock acts like Explosions In The Sky, Caspian, and Sigur Ros. The ambient, beat-laden tracks are often infused with rich, post-rock-esque guitar sweeps, giving Bitcrush a sound that is hard to beat. Many times, the songs change styles completely throughout, making the music all-the-more interesting. The songs have a similar feel to the low, heavy, low, heavy progression of your traditional post-rock, but instead of layered guitar build-ups, there are textural ambient build-ups that lead into crushing guitar and drums, then back into softening ambiance.

Bitcrush's In Distance is a journey in-and-of itself. The music on this album demands the listeners full attention, and it's very hard not to pay attention, given the genius sounds presented. Mike Cadoo is a master at his craft and not only spends time making music as Bitcrush, but also makes music under the aliases Dryft and m.cadoo. He is also the owner and operator of the n5MD record company.

Check out the track 'And Triage' from Bitcrush's In Distance:

The American Dollar - Awake In The City

The American Dollar was formed in August of 2005 by fellow New Yorkers and long time friends John Emanuele and Rich Cupolo. After sharing their first recorded track on the Internet, it was licensed right away for television production and the duo knew that their compositions were suitable enough for the film and television industry. Soon after, The American Dollar released their first full-length record. Since 2005, the duo has been hard at work, releasing 5 full-length records, 2 remix full-lengths, and numerous EPs. They have also had their music featured on CSI:Miami, Infiniti Automobile commercials, the television trailer for Up In The Air, and numerous other network and cable features. The band is currently touring areas spanning from Canada to Russia and plan to continue touring throughout Russia, Europe, and China during the Spring of 2012.

On March 24, 2012, The American Dollar released their newest effort entitled Awake In The City. While the band has become a big name in the post-rock genre, you don't hear any gigantic, climaxing guitar tones for 10 minutes at a time. Rather, you hear thought provoking, well structured synth and piano-laden melodies that play a huge role in establishing their unique sound. These melodies, of course, are accompanied by smooth guitar riffs and ambient percussion. Awake In The City sees the band continuing down the path that they are most comfortable with. Tracks such as 'Faces In The Haze' and 'Heavy Eyes Ignite' bring out that familiar The American Dollar sound with nostalgic piano melodies and warm guitar leads. There are also tracks such as 'Ether Channels', 'First Day', and 'Steeltown Part One' that have the more electronic/beat-oriented vibe.

Whether it's their beautiful, piano-laden tracks or their electronic-laden tracks, The American Dollar never seems to disappoint. Awake In The City is the duo crafting already familiar work at its best. This album is one that is good for gloomy, rainy days or beautiful, relaxing days. Either way, this is instrumental music that needs to be listened to and felt from the inner core.

Check out the track 'Crossing Asia' off of The American Dollar's Awake In The City:



Ernest Gonzales - Natural Traits

San Antonio, Texas-based Ernest Gonzales is one busy fellow and a multi-tasker at heart. Before going solo, Gonzales was best known for his role in Mexicans With Guns, an electronic/trip-hop project that is no longer active. His multifaceted background not only includes music, but he is also a middle school technology teacher, a record label owner (Exponential Records), a husband, and a father of two.

Gonzales's latest creation, an LP entitled 'Natural Traits', is a unique blend of melodic songwriting and electronic euphoria. Many modern electronic/instrumental hip-hop albums contain a variety of samples, but this is not the case with 'Natural Traits'. There is no sampling on the entire album. Instead, it is a beautiful combination of analogue and digital instrumentation. Heavy percussion upholds every track and heartfelt ambient sounds are scattered throughout. 'Natural Traits' is a tough album to classify due to the fact that it contains some of the best hip-hop influenced beats in years, mixed with the ambient sounds of a genius. Yes, there have been albums like this before, but I have not heard one as well-crafted as 'Natural Traits' in years.

Ernest Gonzales's 'Natural Traits' is the type of album that fits many moods and can be listened to in a variety of situations. Many genres can be heard throughout the album including glitch-hop, ambient, house, electronic, post-rock, and hip-hop. Each song is like an educational lesson from this technology teacher/musical mastermind. 'Natural Traits' can be listened to at a very low volume while studying or at a very high volume, where the bass will make you want to get out of your seat and start dancing. I highly recommend this album for music fans in general. Ernest Gonzales is not trying to prove anything on this release, he is just humbly showing his many musical sides.

Check out the track 'Beneath The Surface' off of Ernest Gonzales's 'Natural Traits':

The American Dollar - Heavy Eyes Ignite (Single)

New York based ambient duo The American Dollar have been one of my all time favorite musical acts since their self-titled debut was released in 2006. In six years, The American Dollar have released four full-length studio albums, two compilations, one split EP, and one live album. On March 24, 2012, they will release their newest full-length entitled 'Awake In The City'. Today, March 1, 2012, they released the first single from this new effort entitled 'Heavy Eyes Ignite', and it automatically brings back that classic, ambient sound that The American Dollar mastered the craft of. Heartfelt keys, melodic guitar, and complex drumming make up the entirety of the track, and the tracks overall tone gives off a secure and warming vibe. 'Heavy Eyes Ignite' is an overall beautiful track and leaves me knowing that the entire full-length 'Awake In The City' is going to be a masterpiece.

Listen to 'Heavy Eyes Ignite' here:
http://theamericandollar.bandcamp.com/track/heavy-eyes-ignite-single-edit

City Of Satellites - Machine Is My Animal

Australian based duo City Of Satellites create a beautiful blend of structured electronic pop filled with layered guitar tones, beautifully atmospheric vocals, and intricate drumming. Layers of vintage synthesizers and textures are interwoven in the mix, creating a unique sound somewhere between post-rock and shoegaze. The ethereal vocals and synth soundscapes reminded me of my childhood right away, combining 80's pop influences with more modern technology. I can hear elements of My Bloody Valentine, M83, The Smashing Pumpkins, Joy Division, and Jatun throughout City Of Satellites's music. This band completely blew me away, changed my day, and brought me back to that childhood feeling of dreaming and being free in spirit.

Check out City Of Satellites - Skeletons (Remix):



Metazen - Digital Purgatory

Bay area experimental hip-hop mastermind Metazen is at it again and is planning on releasing a new EP very soon. Although I am eagerly awaiting the new EP, Metazen has done a great job at keeping fans well fed with the release of his new track Digital Purgatory. Digital Purgatory comes in at 6 minutes and 6 seconds, and is an all instrumental track. The piano leading into the track sounds very reminiscent of a score for a thriller movie. After this, the bass drops and electronic wobbles fill the space. Post-rock driven guitar work is heard through out the bass and fuzz, and the layering has to be some of the best that I have heard in any genre. As much as I would like to continue describing Digital Purgatory, the track is best left to interpretation. This track is heartfelt, eerie, dark, and beautiful all at the same time, and my interpretation of it is beyond words. Metazen, you have done it again, and I can't wait to hear the new material in the very near future. 

Listen to Metazen's Digital Purgatory here:
http://soundcloud.com/metavatta/digital-purgatory

Innovative Music's Top Ten Albums of 2011

1. Junius - Reports From The Threshold Of Death:

Though there were many top albums for me in 2011, Junius' Reports From The Threshold Of Death, without a doubt, takes the cake. On Reports, Junius lose the post-punk/indie sound that they are known for and instead trade it for dreamy, spaced-out, mature sounding rock music. The album has its darkwave influences such as Depeche Mode and Joy Division, and combines these influences with crushing riffs and intricacy similar to the sounds of Isis and Deftones. Reports is inspired by near death experiences, with many of the songs focusing on light, judgement, and ascension. Though the album's overall theme may seem dark, the overall outcome of the album has a strong sense of light. The album was recorded at Will Benoit's (Constants) Radar Studios, which is powered entirely by solar energy. Reports literally would not exist without light present. Junius' Reports From The Threshold Of Death is an incredibly uplifting album and is easily my favorite of 2011. I highly recommend this album.

For fans of: Joy Division, A Perfect Circle, Depeche Mode, Isis, Deftones

2. Nao - Nao:

Nao's self-titled album comes in second place on my list of top ten albums of 2011. Nao was started in 2002 by Pierre-Andre Pernin (computer, ideas galore) as a one-man project, but he was soon joined by Thibault Fellmann (drums), Jordan Daverio (guitar), and Matthieu Tercieux (video design). Nao's music combines crafty melodies and downtempo/industrial beats, with influences ranging from Nine Inch Nails and 65daysofstatic to Amon Tobin and Bitcrush. On this self-titles masterpiece, Nao present a beautiful combination of electronica and stadium-worthy rock. This is only the beginning for Nao and their self-titled album is easily one of my favorites of 2011, or essentially, all time.

For fans of: Nine Inch Nails, 65daysofstatic, Amon Tobin, Bitcrush

3. Sainthood Reps - Monoculture:

One thing that has stuck with me ever since I was a child is my love for the 90's alternative/grunge rock that I grew up with. Very few modern bands have been able to bring back this sound that I loved as a child and still love to this day. I was aching for some new raw, alternative, grunge music until I discovered Sainthood Reps. This Long Island quartet relies heavily on distorted guitars and thick bass tones reminiscent of many grunge acts of the early 90's. Sainthood Reps Monoculture is an album that you will have to hear for yourself, but it is a great throwback album for those that grew up on 90's grunge/alternative and can serve as a starting point to those that were to young to experience the great sounds of that era.

For fans of: Brand New (after 2005), Hum, Failure, The Life And Times

4. Tycho - Dive:

Next on the list is Tycho's Dive. Tycho is San Francisco-based artist/producer Scott Hansen. Dive is a collection of ten tracks that make the listener feel exactly like the title suggests, diving into an ocean of sounds and floating in the depths. Tycho's Dive is filled with lush, atmospheric arrangements that allow the listener to hear something new with each listen. Analog synths and hip-hop-esque bass sound out the majority of the album, which may sound standard to some, but that is what makes the album more enjoyable. Dive is one of the more chilled out favorite albums of 2011, but in a very comfortable and relaxed way. Dive is an album that is perfect for shutting off your busy brain and just enjoying the beautiful sounds coming through your speakers. Tycho is bringing back the art of analog synths that artists such as Brian Eno and Boards Of Canada heavily relied on, and he is doing an incredible job at it.

For fans of: Boards Of Canada, Brian Eno, Ulrich Schnauss, Arms And Sleepers



5. Metazen - The Conscious Cicatrix:

One thing with me, when it comes to music, is that I listen for creativity, feeling, sound quality, and an overall pleasing of the ear. Genres are very irrelevant to me when it comes to music. Metazen's music has all of these elements and his 2011 release The Conscious Cicatrix has to be one of my favorite hip-hop/not-so-hip-hop albums in quite some time. Though there are many elements of different genres thrown in to the mix, this is not why I enjoy the album so much. The overall sound quality and lyricism on the album is beyond unique. Metazen's vocals are based on his own thoughts and interests which include mind control, alien abduction, and terraforming. The lyrics on The Conscious Cicatrix allow the listener to explore topics beyond the world. With the release of The Conscious Cicatrix, Metazen has crafted some incredible experimental rap that covers many boundaries.

For fans of: El-P, Nine Inch Nails, Dalek, Rage Against The Machine

6. Mogwai - Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will:

Mogwai have carved the path for many and have influenced numerous other bands in the post-rock genre. 2011's Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will follows in the footsteps of previous Mogwai releases, however, there are some surprises on this release. You will hear elements of krautrock, shoegaze, dancehall, techno, post-rock, alternative, punk, and ambient. Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will never gets boring and shows that Mogwai can switch up the routine if they please. This could be one of Mogwai's best albums since Young Team and they have definitely opened new doors over the years. Mogwai are innovators of their craft and this album is one hell of a creation.

For fans of: Explosions In The Sky, Caspian, This Will Destroy You, GYBE



7. Collapse Under The Empire - Shoulders & Giants:

Hamburg, Germany's post-rock geniuses Collapse Under The Empire are, without a doubt, one of the best instrumental duos that I have ever heard. Their 2011 release Shoulders & Giants is also one of my favorite instrumental albums of all time. The music on Shoulders & Giants doesn't have the same post-rock sound that fans of the genre are used to. Collapse Under The Empire has taken a different approach with this album than on their previous releases. The sounds revealed on Shoulders & Giants are filled with epic guitar tones and many more electronic elements than any other Collapse Under The Empire release. Shoulders & Giants is one of Collapse Under The Empire's most stripped down and mature album to date. They keep progressing and proving, with each release, that they are some of the best players in instrumental music.

For fans of: The American Dollar, Sleepmakeswaves, pg.lost, Long Distance Calling



8. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross - Original film score for "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo":

Original film scores have always been some of my favorite records to listen to. In 2011, one of my favorite film scores of all time was released and that score is for the film The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo soundtrack is made up of nearly three-hours, 37 pieces of rich, experimental, dark compositions. The score is filled with solid electronic and acoustic music that goes in strange and eerie directions. This is easily one of Reznor's darkest sounding efforts to date, along with Ross, and is a perfect fit for the movie it accompanies. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo soundtrack is easily my favorite film score of all time.

For fans of: Nine Inch Nails, The Social Network soundtrack, Brian Eno

9. Thomas Giles - Pulse:

Thomas Giles is the solo project for Between The Buried And Me frontman Tommy Rogers. On February 1, 2011, he released his debut album entitled Pulse on Metal Blade Records. The album combines a perfect blend of space-rock, industrial, folk, electronic, metal, and progressive, and is a truly entertaining and legendary album. The most incredible part about Pulse is that it was completely written by Tommy Rogers himself and this shows true talent and skill. Even though each track is completely different, they all seem to work together perfectly and flow in to one another smoothly. This album makes for one epic adventure and is sure to be a rewarding experience for whoever chooses to listen.

For fans of: Trent Reznor, Thom Yorke, BTBAM

10. Misuse - April: 

Formed in 2001, Greek post-rockers Misuse have been carving quite a path for themselves since their formation, and with their 2011 release April, they are better than ever. Since their debut album, Misuse has been experimenting with new sounds, textures, and styles that go beyond the post-rock genre. Although they took big steps with April, Misuse still are able to maintain the true identity of the band. April shows a darker and more experimental side of Misuse, and this new approach shows the band at their best.

For fans of: Mogwai, Errors, The American Dollar, Arms And Sleepers



Sainthood Reps - Monoculture

It is a very rare occurrence when a band can pull off a sound that is on par with the music that said band grew up with. Long Island natives, Sainthood Reps, fit this rarity and this can be heard on their Tooth and Nail Records debut Monoculture. While Tooth and Nail Records lost their grunge and punk-inspired roots over time, these roots have returned on Sainthood Reps Monoculture. Monoculture has a variety of influential sounds, including Smashing Pumpkins, Frodus, Brand New, Failure, Jawbox, and early mewithoutYou.

Sainthood Reps bring back the fuzzy, distorted guitars and thick, pummeling bass of early grunge and post-punk. The vocals are very thought provoking and are sort of a finger to corporate America, which is what really defined the grunge/punk movement years ago. Monoculture is filled with social criticism and many of the tracks refer to the tragedies brought on by greed or pride. This criticism on commercialization is evident in the first, title track 'Monoculture' and remains steady throughout the entirety of the record.

Sainthood Reps Monoculture is definitely an album for fans of 90's music, particularly grunge and post-punk. It is a raw and stripped down record that goes back to the roots that its creators grew up on. Albums like Monoculture are few and far between, and are definitely worth every penny. For such a new band, Sainthood Reps not only sound like many well-known grunge legends, they also manage to pull the sound off successfully. Monoculture is a masterpiece of a record and will appeal to any fan of grunge, alternative, or punk rock. Sainthood Reps have put themselves on the map with the release of their debut Monoculture and have crafted what could very well be one of the best early-90's-esque albums of the last decade.

Check out the track 'Dingus' off of Sainthood Reps Monoculture:

Check out the track 'Hunter' off of Sainthood Reps Monoculture: