Expression of Sonic deversions
Temple of the Stars - Nightspirit- CD/ Digital/LP ( Inverse )
One man band's were do you stand with these are they really bands or just projects someone created for the love making music well Tobias Tag is the man from Finland to bring us Temple of the Stars. This a Folky Prog Rock Journey that has a strong love of bands like Tenhi, Antimatter, Amorphis mixed with Hedningarna,Garmarna and Varttina. There are some moments I think this band would fit amazing on Prophecy Production sub label Auerback as he makes music of the Dark and wonderful Pagan folk style. Let woodwind and strings with the soulful heathen voice that goes from Prog to Folk works so well with the musical sounds of nature. I keep waiting for a metal moment after 6 tracks no a one. Temple of the stars has a very YES and Gentle Giant Prog element going on here as well. I do really like this and want to hear more. They come from metal more at that Antimatter, Anathema way now.There are some heavy rocking moments but never what I would call metal.Be proud of the majestic album you have presented before us and keep on this journey.
K-X-P- IV - CD/Digital/LP ( Svart Records )
This is the kind of band that makes you think about music and why some bands just phone it in. With K-X-P they are mixing element of Electronics, Prog, Orchestral, Post punk, Industrial, Kraut rock and many other Avant styles into something that reminds me of Vast, When, Can ,Wire, Circle , Ulver and Peter Ulrich . K-X-P are shaping sound itself and creating new ideals with every album they create this duo of Timo Kaukolampi and Tomi Leppänen have made me love electronic music more and more with each release they offer us. No this is not an easy or simple listen but so more rewarding then many other album out there over the last 5 + years. Svart you just keep supplying me amazing leftof center bands like Ektro, Aural/Code 666, Nordvis ,D.M.P and Prophecy Productions. So the world can just be a little more interesting and creative for me and the rest that want to hear.
Lost In Kiev- Persona-CD/Digital /LP (Pelagic )
France or Quebec ( yes USA and UK too but follow me here) these seem to really be the homes for some of the most stunning Post Rock that comes with a Prog and Avant overtone. Yes there is a metallic overtone to Lost in Kiev but over all this is coming from a very spacial and dreamy place were reverb and odd times signatures are king, This could very well be a Constellation , Handmade Bird or Temporary residence records release. Music like this can can emotion on the drop of a dime. Also love those vocals loops and samples going on. If you like you Post Rock Jazzy this is also another band to call your own. Love the warm complex bass and rythmic patterns that are being created here as well. The Guitars go from fragile to fuzzy to just powerful and elegant . Lost in Kiev is one those bands like Caspian or Mogwai that can just create the mood by tone alone and well as a band like Russian Circle. These Frenchmen have giving me an album that checks of some many of the boxes of what make music special you have to at least give it a listen and there are some very impressive moments here for sure.
Pelican- Nighttime Stories- CD/ Digital /LP (Southern Lord )
If you don't know who Pelican is by now over the last decade I do weep for you a bit . With Russian Circles they are one the most powerful and impressive Post Metalcore/Rock bands on the Earth hands down. A wall of beauty and fury come from every record and live when ever I have seen them. They are some kind of special when it comes to music and yes they don't need a vocal line to blow you away. Just let the Guitars, Bass and Drums do all the talking and Pelican will never do you any wrong. With Nighttime Stories they has gotten a be more Proggy and Avant but the heavy groove an metallic overtones are still there. Pelican have just become better musicians as time goes by. The tracks seem to even at time goto into more heavy indie rock worlds were labels like Touch and Go and Merge took us in the late 90's and early 00's. I will say this just an added bonus to the bands overall presentation. I hear bands like Polvo, Six Finger Satelite and Trans Am ging on here folks. What more do you really need.Get this or fail at life.
Katu Kaiku -Luna- CD/Digital/LP ( Svart )
Well Svart you have done it to me again lol. A Jazz Power Trio and this being the 2nd album I now will need to go back and see what the debut is like. Very light and airy freeform Jazz but it great and cleans the aural passage way of all the extremity in my listening day. You can sit back and just chill to a long day and decompress with this . These folks are veyr good at what that do . You would want to hear this at a speak easy on a mid week night playing . There is a very Rachels vibe to this so I give them a indie rock cred for sure I can also hear the more minimal Morphine elements in this . I was not ready to close out the reviews on this album but it's really the perfect end to the reviews this morning. Street Jazz is alive and well on Svart records and I can see why a band like this would make you want to help them and get this style out to a world and crowd that may have never heard it before. Thumbs way out on Katu Kaiku !!!
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