Pirate Ship

 

Song: “Pirate Ship”

Artist: The Pirate Ship Quintet

Album: The Pirate Ship Quintet [EP] (2007)

… Bristol, United Kingdom …

Most bands these days labelled with the post-rock tag seem to meander along in the same old stale territory. They seem to mass produce the music instead of create it. The Pirate Ship Quintet (TPSQ) seem to do the latter. With a darker sound than most, they rely on tension and ambiance to create a lavish instrumental sound-scape.

“Pirate Ship”starts with a delicate, repetitive beginning. The layers of instruments, which are given there own space to roam slowly add in number as the track gain momentum.  It finally builds into a mighty composition that summons the spirit and tames the wild beast.

TPSQ are not ground-breaking in the music that they create, but what they create they do so well. I cant help to feel that there is something new to their sound which separates them from the post-rock herd.

By Winter You Run With The Nights, Never Came Home.

Song: “Just As The Day Was Dawning”

Artist: Big Business

Album: Here Come The Waterworks (2007)

… Seattle, United States …

With there Melvins-esque sound Big Business are just two guys grinding out their own style of hard’n'heavy grooves.

Dominated by ambidextrous, ingenuous baselines and anarchy filled drumming, this track is surprisingly catchy and I know after every listen it will be with me for days.

The Unmagnificent Lives Of Adults

Song: “Mistaken For Strangers”

Artist: The National

Album: Boxer (2007)

…New York, United States…

Its a record of dark beauty, that on a knife edge manages to mix the right amount of tension and elegance. Its an impressive record that deals with observations of a city, friends, lovers and strangers.

To me “Mistaken By Strangers” is about growing into adulthood and starting to move in different circles than current friends who are quite happy not to embrace change. Experiencing the world/city through your own eyes, and developing into someone new to the point that you become anonymous to these old friends.

We’ll Burn In The Sun And We’ll Fall To The Moon

Song: “Water Is Not Enough”

Artist: Neurosis

Album: Given To The Rising

…Oakland, United States…

A return to heaviness but still incorporating the atmospheric elements from the last 2 previous releases. ‘Given To The Rising’ batters the listener one minute with tuned down guitars and guttural vocals, slowly grinding down your inner ear bones to nubs until they open up into a landscape of lush, atmospheric sounds.

“Water Is Not Enough” is just one of my personal favorites.

Prehistoric Dog

Song: “Prehistoric Dog”

Artist: Red Fang

Album: Tour EP (2007)

…Stoner Rock Baby…

Just cant get enough of this band and just discovered the video.

Fucking love it so wrap your ears around it as well…

http://pitchfork.tv/videos/red-fang-prehistoric-dog

Sleep On…Fly On

Song: “Ants Of The Sky”

Artist: Between The Buried And Me

Album: Colors (2007)

…North Carolina, United States…

An absolutely exceptional album, diverse, extremely technical and complex with each song having a myriad of influence that bubble to the surface. It is a monster of an album with a ravenous appetite to match.

Ants of the sky is the centre piece of the album, and illustrates perfectly the diversity that this album has created. Whether it be middle eastern or jazz influences or in the case of this song, towards the end, country music (a hoedown, complete with clinking bottles and a good ‘ol time in the background) you find no matter how far they divert, in the end they always return to the central metal sound of the track.

“I wrote this song in an airport. When I listen to music on my headphones, I like to watch the world work and think about what every single person is doing that day. This song is about each one of us creating our own itinerary and flying through our life on one big vacation. Trying to find happiness, perfection, and love.

It’s a “bloody, bumpy” road for most, and others it’s a wonderful journey. We fly away from our problems and towards our solutions (at least what we think are our solutions). We are the ants of the sky…aka the walking dead.”
-Tommy

Lastfm – http://www.last.fm/music/Between+the+Buried+and+Me

I Got This Soul, It’s All Fired Up

Song: “All Fired Up”

Artist: Interpol

Album: Our Love To Admire

…The third studio album from these post-punk/indie New Yorkers…

Personally I’m not the biggest fan of Interpol, I think there are definetly better bands out there. For example ’The National’, to me they have a richer sound which I like. But to say that, this album is slowly growing on me over time and I kept singing this song in my head all yesterday afternoon.

To me this song just bleed’s festering, sexual frustration. To me its the control that immorality, wickedness, lust has over us all in some little way or big ways.

Lastfm – http://www.last.fm/music/Interpol

Fyri Framman

Song: Fyri Framman

Artist: Lis Er Stille

Album: Apathobvious (2007)

...Danish Post Rock…

A concept band that attempted to transforms the artist Vindril’s surreal painting into music. This is an amazing album, warm and inviting, it wrapped me up after the 1st listen and has never really let me go.

This individual song came on random as i was in the gym earlier and I think it is a  stunning example of what Lis er Stille can accomplish. It starts of so slow with the piano and some wonderful undertones of strings, guitars, bass and drums. Martain Byrialsens vocals are haunting and interlock in perfectly with the music they are sung over. As the track progresses the lyrics dont seem to matter as much as the feelings that are inspired into the listener. The last 3 minutes are amazing as the everything quietens down and then the drums start, building up in momentum and as they reach their peak all the sound come surging back in a passionate torrent.

A very innovative and original track much like the entire album I recommend to anyone to have a listen. Its just a shame that this album will just slide past many ears unnoticed and largly unappreciated.

Lastfm – www.last.fm/music/Lis+Er+Stille