Zongamin “Self-Titled” (XL Recordings) ’70s disco-funk-rock guitar bites and breakbeat rhythms are some of the musical detritus Zongamin compiles together into their slick, hip instrumental sound collage. This Japanese group is taking our indie tricks and doing them faster and…
Yo La Tengo “Summer Sun” (Matador) It seems that with each album they release, Yo La Tengo always appear to raise the bar up a notch when it comes to sonic texture and general coolness. On their latest release “Summer…
Värttinä “Iki” (Northside) Led by a female trio of vocalists, this Finnish ensemble celebrates their 20th anniversary with “Iki”. “Iki” is the “primal, eternal breath” and this album celebrates that sacred respiration by focusing on songs full of intertwined melody…
Waiting for Autumn ““Now I Know forever”” (American Jealousy) What a truly emo name. I remember back in the day there was this website that basically spelled out how to name an emo band and it was very informative about…
Ursa Minor “Silent Moving Picture” (Smells Like Records) In a time when experimental music is about dramatic effect, Michelle Casillas experiments with subtlety and sounds unusual as they are understated on this song-oriented after-hours album gem. Much of the texture…
Various Artists “Stepping Stone Vol. 1: The Best Bands you have Never Heard” (The Militia Group) The idea behind this compilation is great. Take 15 unsigned bands, put one of their songs on a CD, sell it for a low price…
Unearthly “Infernum – Prelude to a New Reign” (Crash Music) The CD opens with a man, most likely a preacher, professing loudly, “I believe in God! I believe in God!” and then we are treated to the sounds of a…
This Bright Apocalypse “Motion and Rest” (5040 or Fight) More emo-prog. This time from Wisconsin. Seems fairly sincere, but the omnipresent and frequently out of tune vocal harmonies can be a bit grating. The most enjoyable part of this release…
Tarantula Hawk “Self-Titled” (Neurot) An absolutely stunning second full length by San Diego’s Gods of death-prog: Tarantula Hawk. Like a cross between Black Sabbath, King Crimson and the Locust. An extended, but intricately composed, instrumental session full of blistering, twisted…
The Hookers “Self-Titled” (Cold Crush) Bathed in distortion and demanding “Gimme Rock and Roll”. This is the band that ate the garage they practiced in and spewed it forth as a vomited exercise in rawk. Sloppy one-takes with a greasy,…