The Sword Keep Sabbath Alive

Absolutely tremendous stuff from The Sword, from the bastard offspring of Black Sabbath. Why has no-one ever called their band The Sword before this?

"This is simply the best album I've recieved in ages. If you can tell by the cover art, these guys play a mix of souther rock, doom, and a tiny bit of metal all blended to create a melodic and epic masterpeice of american music that deserves a ton of fans and a few bong packs". (According To StereoKiller)

Further Listening

Tunturia : "Maps" (Self-Released)

To all the people who have been asking, I'm now working over at Angry Ape and (just recently) Grooves Mag. However, I am allowed to post some reviews here, just not the amazing free stuff I get from the webzines. I can post reviews from cd's sent direct by bands though!

So without wasting anymore time, any keen post-rock fans will have heard of Tunturia by now. A terrific recommendation from The Silent Ballet, this is my thougths on their self-released debut "Maps". There is also an mp3 of the wonderful "Cast Shadows On Clouds" at the bottom of the page and is part of The Silent Ballet compilation series.



There is something reassuringly ambitious about "Maps", the self-released debut from Canadian instrumentalists Tunturia. While their name is derived from the Finnish term meaning 'treeless plain', it's Tunturia's ability to construct a swooning, majestic sound that is most striking here. Make no mistake, this is post-rock of the most epic proportions. A sound that summons the atmospheres of daunting, desolate landscapes and invokes images of vast glacial terrains.

Using an array of guitar effects, synths and thought-provoking audio samples, Tunturia have issued a grandiose statement in "Maps". Hailing from the melting pot city of Toronto, this quartet tap into its bustling diversity, defining each of the ten tracks with social, cultural, historical and emotional issues. The grainy audio sample on "Qui Tacet Consentit", for example, is of NRA leader Charlton Heston and deals with his lax attitude towards remedying the powder-keg issue of gun violence in North America.

Both "Cast Shadows On Clouds" and "Echoes Of The Unmoved Mover" anchor this album into the epic post-rock terrains occupied by only a select few. The former moves from celestial, chiming guitar work and echoic sampling that's dripping with nostalgia and into a majestic orchestral passage. The sort of passage the term spine-tingling was created for.

"Echoes..", meanwhile, develops in a more conventional manner. On face value, you may have heard an instrumental passage similar to this one, a hundred times before. But just about when you are ready to dismiss it completely, Tunturia unleash a volley of monolithic, house-leveling distortion that will (quite literally) take your breath away.

Perhaps their crowning moment, though, comes on the 14-minute album closer "Lost In The Hidden Forest". Journeying into the depths of the soul of a faceless man lost in unfamiliar territory, Tunturia seamlessly weave between intricate guitar lines and tentative percussion and into walls of devastating, euphoric noise. It is refreshing for a young band to be so daring and "...Hidden Forest" is sprawling in every sense of the word.

A remarkable debut from a group of musicians with enormous potential. Tunturia: a band with a conscience, a band with big ideas, a band so effortlessly epic that it should be a criminal offence to ignore them.

8.5/10

"Cast Shadows On Clouds" mp3 - Tunturia

Softwar & The Jewelled Antler Collective

Another day and another review for Angry Ape, this time it comes in the form of mysterious Californian quartet Softwar. I have to admit this was one of the most challenging CD's I've had to tackle so far. Softwar don't deal in conventional songs. In fact, the word song is probably the wrong term altogether. Combining folk music with drones, acoustic instruments, 60's psychedelia, Middle Eastern instrumentation and a love of recording in natural surroundings, Softwar's self-titled debut is challenging to say the least.

Further investigation revealed the four musicians are major players in the enigmatic Jewelled Antler Collective. A group of musicians whose initial aim was to explore drone, improv, field recordings and free-folk music and distribute the results on CD-R's. The music was often recorded live and spontaneously, but has since evolved into something much bigger. Groups like The Skygreen Leopards and Thuja (video) are all part of this collective and some of the music is now being distributed by some of the finest labels on the planet. Softwar's debut can be found on Digitalis, but it's not an album for those with a short attention span. It took more than a few listens for anyhting to register. I almost gave up trying to like it, but then something clicked and dleightful sounds started to trickle through, culminating in floods of enjoyment during last track "Prui".

It's experimental, improvised and frustrating at times. But Softwar are worth investigating for those interested in the whole New Weird America movement. Angry Ape is also hosting an mp3. You can also stream every track at Boomkat.

Softwar Review

Efterklang & The Twilight Sad

Hi, sorry for the lack of updates, but this is the time of year when my work gets busy. On another note, I have started contributing to a very cool webzine called Angry Ape. Its like a UK version of Pitchfork. The first two reviews are Efterklang's wonderful "Under Giant Trees" Ep and The Twilight Sad's distotrion heavy "Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters".

'Under Giant Trees' - Efterklang (Leaf)


First review for Angry Ape and there is no better way to start than Danish collective Efterklang. I liked 'Tripper' but felt it was a little fragmented. However, the songs on the recent Ep "Under Giant Trees" are wonderful, some of the most magical I have ever had the joy of listening to. According to Leaf, their record label, an full album is due later in the year. If there was ever a band on the verge of greatness, I'd say it's Efterklang. The video is a live performance of 'Jojo', the final track and argubly the best on the ep. I think it conveys the magic of this collective and I urge you to seek this one out, if you haven't already. Angry Ape is also hosting an mp3 from the release, just click the link below.



Efterklang Review


The Twilight Sad - "Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters" (Fat Cat)


I've known about The Twilight Sad for a longer than I have been letting on. Back in 2003 I distinctly remember being mesmerised by a band called The Cholo at Glasgow's 13th Note Cafe. They used an array of strange instruments and created crazy, pyschedelic sounding jams. I remember raving about them and searching for releases in all the usual indie record shops, but nothing came to fruition. Even on the net, my searches were weilding very few results. However, the following quote on the Fat Cat website ahs me convinced The Cholo has since became The Twilight Sad:

"The band played a couple of gigs at the 13th Note in Glasgow, creating half hour-long pieces of music using guitars, bass, drums, theremin, tape loops from films and old folk/country songs, effects pedals, toy keyboards, thumb pianos, saws, computer games and a lot of noise in an attempt to try and discover a sound they could call their own and continue to develop. After these two shows, they rejected many gig offers, and became a more reclusive unit, spending any spare time they had in the studio focused on writing and sculpting away at new material"

'Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters' is just what the Scottish music scene needs right now. Mogwai don't bother with words, Idlewild have lost the plot and the likes of The Delgados, AC Acoustics, Arab Strap and Aereogramme have decided to call it a day. Its a simple formula : towering waves of distorted guitar and hugely infectious choruses. Even the stone-hearted couldn't fail to love this band. And in frontman James Graham, The Twilight Sad have one of the most unique voices out there. No wonder, America loves them. We all should too.



The Twilight Sad Review

The Twilight Sad Myspace

'That Summer, At Home I Had Become The Invisible Boy' mp3 - The Twilight Sad

New Charts

This week I spent most of my time listening to CD's rather than music uploaded onto Itunes, hence the low count on the charts below. Although it still gives a good indication of what was being played last week. The cd's in question are all worth checking out. Pirate Ship Qunitet's self-titled ep is impressive, while Shout Out Out Out Out defintely have something going for them. I should also mention Panther Attack's "Martyr Bonus", this Seattle-based band are immensely talented and the album features some very complex rythmns. But where as, a lot of math-rock leaves me feeling quite cold, there is something about Panther Attack's style that suggests they have a long career ahead of them. Finally, Port-Royal have refined their sound slightly with "Afraid To Dance" which is out on May. Another impressive release from Resonant and worth investigating

Thee More Shallows : "Book of Bad Breaks" (Anticon)

On face value, signing to Anticon (home of underground hip-hop) was a strange decision for Thee More Shallows. But the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. One of the things I love about TMS, is their eccentrity or quirkiness, Anticon's ethics are based around the concepts of non-conformity. The label ahs been keen to diversify and lately have brought in more indie-oreintated acts such as SJ Esau and Bracken. I also love the fact that Thee More Shallows write some of the most euphoric melodies since Rivers Cuomo disbanded Weezer. However, TMS can wrap these melodies into experimental rock structures akin to someone like Pavement. Only the Yanks can produce bands like this and TMS follow in the traditions of Stephen Malkmus, Sonic Youth and even Grandaddy. Listening to the likes of "Night At The Night School", "The White Mask" and "Dutch Fist", you cannot help being swayed by this wonderful music. Some of the best songs written so far this year

Rating - 86%

"Night At The Knight School" mp3 - Thee More Shalows

Triptych Round-Up

It says a lot about the passion of Kling Klang, that they contributed one of the best performances of this year's Triptych Festival. From out of nowhere, the Liverpool four-piece stole the show from their more illustrious counterparts with a performance that was equal parts invention and energy. There was something novel about their set-up, consisting of 3 synthesizers and drums, while their sound is a unique mix of stoner rock sludge and Kraftwerk style electro. The drummer was, quite frankly, fantastic while some of the monsterous guitar riffs had the walls rattling. Most impressive, though, was the sheer passion of this young band as their label boss, Stuart Braithwaite, looked on proudly.

65 Days of Static are unbelievebly talented musicians, there can be no doubting that. Some of the rythmns the drummer was pounding out were outrageoeus. An inventive blend of glitch electronica and precise post-rock, they sound something like a collaboration between Mogwai and Aphex Twin. It was all remarkably impressive at the start. Things, however, got a bit tedious towards the end with the band relying on the same formula throughout the whole set. Not a particularly bad thing, but a little more variety could have propelled this performance to a higher standard. Having said that, they certainly know how to channel the enormous amounts of energy they project and I can see why people swear by 65 DOS. They are certainly a different kettle of fish, but perhaps they suffer from trying to cram too much of a good thing into the one set.

While both 65 DOS and Kling Klang were certainly exciting, the same cannot be said about The Cinematic Orchestra. A performance that would cure even the most extreme cases of insomnia, everything was carefully measured and, therefore, soulless. The musicianship was impeccable, but this was a problem. It left you almost praying for a mistake, a sense of a human touch. But at £18 per ticket, I left feeling that listening to the CD rather than going to see The Cinematic Orchestra live, would have been a better option. Considering they have a new album to promote, this was one lacklustre (and boring) show.

Cinematic Orchestra : "Man With The Movie Camera"

I'm off to see The Cinematic Orchestra tonight, as part of the Triptych Festival (Scotland's answer to SXSW?) and am hoping to see a performance like this!



And here's a remix by RJD2 as a bonus

Triptych Festival : David Pajo and Alexander Tucker Live @ The Classic Grand

Despite the universal critical accalim. Despite the fact that the album has been getting heavy rotation on my Ipod. And despite the fact they are widely regarded as the best band to come out of Glasgow for some time. I ,inexplicably, managed to miss The Twilight Sad's set at last night's Triptych Festival performance. Poor stuff, so I can't tell you if they deserve your attention!.

Thankfully though, I didn't miss Alexander Tucker, who defintely does deserve your attention. Words cannot do this guy justice as his brand of hypntoic, looped instrumentation and booming vocals is immense. The last time I caught him live, I was more than slightly drunk. So I was pleased to get some confirmation that my judgement isn't really clouded by alcohol. My fillings were actually rattling during one song, as Tucker switched between distorted and acoustic guitar recording each part, looping it and then playing something new over it. The end result is one huge, monolithic cloud of sound.

For those people that weren't talking during a frightfully shy performance by Slint mainman David Pajo, they were treated to a collection of gentle and melancholic songs. Using an unbelievebly beautiful guitar and what can only described as foot bells (he had 10 or 11 bells on the ground that made a glockenspiel sound when pressed down by his foot), Pajo half-whispered and half-mumbled his way through some gorgeous moments. Although slightly one-paced, there was something captivating about his peformance that kept most people's attention towards the stage. Except, one girl behind me, who obviously paid the £10 entry fee for the banter alone. She talked to her friends as if she would never see them again. Shame really, because she missed an interesting performance from Pajo. But former Arab Strap frontman, Aiadn Moffat, seemed to enjoy it. I'm just hoping there will be NO talking at all when Slint come to play The Barrowlands.

On a side note, tomorrow night I'm hoping to catch a bit of the much-hyped 65 Days Of Static, Kling Klang's performance and some of Stuart Braithwaite's DJ Set, before heading off to see the Cinematic Orchestra.

More Queens Of The Stone Age

Another taster from Queens Of The Stone Age's forthcoming "Era Vulgaris" album.

Stats - On Itunes Last Week

I'm back on Last.FM after a 6 month hiatus, here's what I was listening to last week

From The Sky : "Like Crystal In A World Of Glass" Ep (Sound Devastation Records)

Sound Devastation have a potentially fantastic band on their hands, in the shape of The Pirate Ship Quintet. There's a real sense of invention about that particular 7-piece collective. The same, however, cannot be applied to labelmates From The Sky.

There's nothing particularly wrong with their 5-track "Like Crystal In A World Of Glass" Ep. "There Are Ghosts In The Glass", for example, packs a real emotional punch, as the band pile on the layers of distortion. While, "Someone To Remember" is a slow-buring epic of a track, featuring lovely cascading guitar lines before it all ends with some spectacular percussion crashes.

But in all reality, Mogwai were doing this much better, way back in the mid-90's. Some of the music seems a little forced, where as Mogwai can let things flow organically. In fact, their sound mirrors that of another early post-rock band called South Pacific. There aren't any real memorable moments on this Ep and this has left me wondering if I will ever go back to it again. Granted poor production doesn't do From The Sky any favours. The empty sound probably hinders "When The Sun Sets The Cloud On Fire". I'll bet that this is show-stopper when played live, but on this ep it's impact is minimal.

Overall, it is disappointing for a band that on occasions displays talent. Had From The Sky been a schoolchild instead of a post-rock quartet, then their teacher would be reprimanding them for copying other people's work. Must do better.

Rating - 60%



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The Pirate Ship Quintet - Self-Titled Ep (Sound Devastation Records)

Not really a 5 piece band, but more of a 14 legged army of musicians, The Pirate Ship Quintet are another young British band intent on creating lavish instrumental soundscapes. This is all getting a bit tedious, isn't it?. Not if TPSQ have anything to do with it. Like Yndi Halda a few years ago, these young upstarts are dragging a stagnant post-rock scene out of the mire of mediocrity using their raw materials to meld something new. They have big ideas, bucketloads of ambition and most importantly the charisma to pull it all off. Witness the jaw-dropping "Pirate Ship", the final track of this ep. A dynamic mix of brass, string arrangements and distortion. It is dramatic and euphoric music, that summons the spirit of the much missed Godspeed collective.

"I Kina Spiser De Hund", meanwhile, comes across like a classically trained Red Sparowes. Maintaining their American conuterparts metallic edge, TPSQ add sombre piano lines and layers of heart-breaking violin, to create a mini-symphony that explodes like a volcano. There's plenty on offer on this 30 minute, 3-track Ep to suggest TPSQ are here to stay. Huge expectations have been placed on this band by those left disappointed by Explosions In The Sky's return earlier this year. If this Ep is anything to go by, this young septet have the abiltity to take instrumental music into uncharted territories.

Rating - 87%

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Patrick Wolf Calls It A Day

Despite a seemingly succesful support slot on Arcade Fire's tour, Patrick Wolf has issued an online statement telling fans he is quitting music.

" I have enjoyed making and performing music for you all, I have enjoyed trying to give a little hope and inspiration to the world. But I feel, especially when I read all this and I go about my days that I have failed."

"I am not sure whether there will be anymore public communications after that (the final November show), In fact I am pretty sure there will be none. A creative clock is ticking and I have many many projects to be creating with my time left on this earth. I hope to share my last shows with you this year"

Seems like he has a dislike of the music industry, but the video above ("The Wind In The Wires") below (a live performance of "Teignmouth") shows why he will be a big loss.

Fulton Lights : Self-Titled (Android Eats Records)

Fulton Lights' self-titled debut is a magnificnet collection of songs that can effortlessly burrow their way into your conscious. The album is an alluring mix bringing together experimental indie rock and dark trip-hop production. What could have been a potentailly awkward combination, has turned out to be one of those little, unexpected treasures. Each of the ten tracks on show offer their own highlights here, which makes for an enticing listen from start to finish.

The project of the velvet-voiced Andrew Spencer Goldman (Maestro Echoplex, John Guilt), it's an ambitious attempt to soundtrack his surroundings, the daunting city of New York. It would be easy to file this album under the label of post 9/11 tension. Fulton Lights, however, is so much more that with lyrical content that gets under the skin of the city. Goldman's sentiments such as when he half whispers "That's the pound of the subway, That's the metal screeching like tortured souls", transports the listener to the very core of the Big Apple until you can almost feel its beating heart. "The Sound Of The City" is an early highlight capturing the dense atmosphere of New York with wailing guitar effects that merge with wind sounds. Goldman's fragile vocals offer up a perfect contrast to the disorientating nature of the instrumentation.

Released through his own Android Eats imprint, Goldman has enlisted the help of several high profile friends. Musicians from diverse acts such as The Walkmen, Wilco, The Hold Steady and Christmas Decorations appear throughout the album. But perhaps the most striking contribution comes from the claustrophobic production overhaul on "1,000 Little Eyes", courtesy of former Dälek DJ, Still. Evoking images of smoke-filled jazz clubs, its the sound of the city that never sleeps as eerie effects combine with a thudding beat. Goldman heightens the tension, repeating the hanuting mantra of "You're being watched by a thousand little eyes" over and over.

"Thank God For The Evening News" follows a similar strategy, resting somewhere between Portishead and Massive Attack. Yet, with its dusty trip-hop beat and cinematic string arrangements, it's instantly compelling. If you feel a little too over-whelmed by the album's claustrophobic nature, however, you will find solace in the beautiful "Old Photographs" and the mesmerising "Fire In The Palm Of My Hand". The former contains striking guitar harmonics, while Goldman's soft vocals recall Grandaddy's Jason Lyttle. "The Fire In The Palm Of My Hand", meanwhile, is a laid-back affair with twinkling piano notes, vocal harmonies, floating string arrangements and soft percussion.

Full of sublime production touches, inventive instrumentation and packed with an endless amount of ideas, Fulton Lights debut offers ten dense and beautiful compositions. It is a heartfelt tribute to the city that Andrew Spencer Goldman has called home for the last five years. A gem of an album and a worthy addition to your record collection.

Rating - 89%

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He's Done It Again

The video above will explain my abscence over the last couple of days. Shunsuke "Genius" Nakamura secured yet another league championship for Celtic with a superb last gasp free-kick. Nakamura is a superstar in his native Japan, he has his own media entourage that follow his every move here in Scotland. Celtic fans were partying all over the world last night!

A Hawk And A Hacksaw And The Hun Hangár Ensemble EP

Following on from last year's excellent "The Way The Wind Blows" album, A Hawk And A Hacksaw have again travelled to the heart of Eastern Europe for their latest project. Jeremy Barnes & co have roped famous Hungarian musicians under the The Hun Hangár Ensemble guise and Beirut's Zach Cordon turns up adding his trumpet and mandolin expertise. Limited to just 4,000 copies the "A Hawk And A Hacksaw And The Hun Hangár Ensemble EP" will be released on May 7th, to coincide with an extensive tour of Europe.

With Efterklang's sublime "Under Giant Trees" already under their belt this year, The Leaf Label are looking to provide yet more evidence of the multi-dimensional artists on its roster. And they seem to have found a winner in A Hawk And A Hacksaw, who are dragging authentic European folk music in the 21st Century.

A mix of the weird and wonderful, exotic instruments such as Hungarian Bagpipes, Cymbalom and Bouzouki are combined with more traditional equipment to create these 8 compositions. Leaf have kindly donated two mp3's.


"Ihabibi" mp3 - A Hawk And A Hacksaw And The Hun Hangár Ensemble

"Zozobra" mp3 - A Hawk And A Hacksaw And The Hun Hangár Ensemble

Fulton Lights : "Fire In The Palm of My Hand"

Work commitments have meant I am slightly delayed in posting the review of Fulton Lights' self-titled album. But you can check out the serene "Fire In The Palm Of My Hand" above in the meantime. It's the work of Andrew Spencer Goldman (released on his own Android Eats imprint) and a plethora of guests and is the culmination of his experiences of living in New York City. Sevearl tracks deal with issues and themes prevalent in the daunting city and makes for a very interesting listen. But the most startling aspect of this album has to be Goldman's soft, velvet vocals. Review to follow

Queens Of The Stone Age : "Era Vulgaris"

Queens Of The Stone Age are set to return in June with new album "Era Vulgaris" and the video above gives an insight into the recording process. Not only is Josh Homme one of my favourite guitarists (ever since his work in Kyuss), QOTSA are easily one of the best rock bands on the planet.

According to Homme the album will be "dark, hard, and electrical, sort of like a construction worker"[1]," and "it's like dirt, clearly seen". Track titles include "Sick, Sick, Sick" (which will feature Julian Casablancas) and other guests include DFA 1979, Trent Reznor, Mark Lanegan and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top.

Listen too "3's & 7's" here

Brand New Herb Mix

Never one's to stay quiet for too long, those kind people at Herb Recordings have come up with another mix. This time it focuses on some newer material with the likes of Engine7, Kingbastard, Rubens, Zerova and Solipsism appearing.




Tracklisting

1. Engine7 - Sunrise, Catalonia
2. Kingbastard - [E p s i l o n S o n g]
3. Zerova - Unnamed Place
4. solipsism - Organicism
5. Shamanic Technology - Thought Bubble Experiment
6. Austech - Circuit Bent
7. Rubens - Vertical Hold
8. Kingbastard - [T r i p o d]
9. Zerova - You Won't
10. Engine7 - Tempertantrum
11. Shamanic Technology - Electronic Therapy


Download

Explosions In The Sky Cancelled, But Panther's Attack

Just came home from work to find out that both th Glasgow and Manchester Explosions In The Sky gigs have been cancelled, due to adverse weather conditions in the USA preventing the band getting a flight. I'd been looking forward to this for a while, so this was a real kick in the teeth.

This is what we'll be missing:



My disappointment has been tempered somewhat, by the arrival of a cd (in my mailbox) by a band with the excellent title of Panther Attack.



I'll admit to not knowing to much about this Seattle-based band. But, judging by the initial impressions of their "Martyr Bonus" CD, that will change in the coming days. The video above makes them look like a harder-edged Tortoise.

Shout Out Out Out Out

Bizarre circumstances at the weekend, meant I recieved an e-mail from who I initially thought was Leslie Feist of Broken Social Scene. It turns out it was her sister!, Emily, who is currently deeply involved with Toronto based Six Shooter Records. Six Shooter also run a media company that is responsible for Arcade Fire's publicity. One band she mentioned, was the fantastically-titled Shout Out Out Out Out. The band from Edmonton have blog-cred written all over them and describe themselves as:

"...two drummers + four bass players + two samplers + five synthesizers + one vocoder. volatile dance music. pick your jaw up off the floor and get down."

A modern day, more fun-loving version of Kraftwerk, if you will. I actually remember there was a fantastic buzz about this band when I lived in Toronto.

"Forever Indebted" (advance mix) mp3 - Shout Out Out Out Out

Verdena & Ronin

You can read a review I wrote for Italian webzine Rockit, on Milanese trio Verdena, here (it's in English too, for all you non-Italians). A loose description of their sound would be something akin to Muse jamming with Reef (whatever happened to them?) or The White Stripes. Although, not something I would normally listen to, their album "Reqium" was enjoyable, with some monster-sized riffs and grandiose arrangements, that did remind me quite a bit of Muse.

Interested?. Stream These.

However, I think I would have been more at home reviewing Ronin's "Lemmings" album. This was given to another blogger, who made a very good job of getting me excited about hearing this band:

"Like some kind of indie Ennio Morricone, Italian post-rockers Ronin compose the kind of languorous instrumental pieces you would expect to find in a modern spaghetti western. At times akin to Calexico, at others reminiscent of a less guitar-dependent Texas blues, the band is at its best when the various pieces come together to reminiscent images of a romantic past. Accordion, tuba, singing saw – all evoke the parched landscapes and rugged characters of Sergio Leone"

Read the rest of the review here.

Update: Just checked out Ronin's myspace page, they seem to have around 26 members!. An Italian version of A Hawk and a Hacksaw?