xScourx

Scour - Scour (2012)

Scour is the solo project of multi-instrumentalist, Felix Skinner. Skinner also plays in the synth doom/black noise California outfit, Wreck and Reference - which can be heard very clearly through his music as Scour if you are familiar with W&R's stuff.

This self-titled album features 26 songs that start with the letter x. I haven't done much research on the matter, but I'm certain that Scour has more songs starting with the letter x than any other musician/band out there today.


Last.fm (Wreck and Reference)
Last.fm (Scour)

NFT's Got You Covered with the Cover of the Year

There was a few good covers to choose from this year but this one definitely stands out as numero uno...

That means number one.

Deafheaven - Punk Rock/Cody (Mogwai cover) (2012)

This intense cover of two songs originally by Mogwai from their album, 'Come On Die Young' comes from Deafheaven's 12'' split with Bosse-de-Nage. While the "Punk Rock" (the intro), and "Cody" are two different tracks on Mogwai's 2006 release, Deafheaven has combined them into one big post black post metal post rock track.

Deafheaven also mix things up with their choice of a spoken word sample for "Punk Rock". While Mogwai's original featured Iggy Pop discussing punk rock no less, Deafheaven's rendition features the words of William Faulkner (talking about fear I'm guessing) followed by some atmospheric black metal piano!

Take a listen:

Be sure to also check out Bosse-de-Nage's side of the split as well.

...and Mogwai's tracks "Punk Rock" and "Cody" if you haven't heard them before:

Both Deafheaven and Bosse-de-Nage are from the "Bay Area" (San Francisco, California). They both play a unique blend of black metal without being from Norway or looking the part. Some like to call that hipster black metal.

I could care less what they wear or where they're from...

The Flenser records
Official site
Last.fm

Monday XXXXIX

Gettin' there.

Tiger Voltage - Mobius' Strip of Gum (2012)

Tiger Voltage is an experimental act from Bangor, Maine. From the little research I have done around them, it seems this may be a solo effort by local musician, Nick Huskins. The music on 'Mobius' Strip of Gum' is mostly guitar driven and built up by using rhythmic repetition and eventually drums that come in around the 3rd or 4th track. Things soon start to pick up by the 7th track, entitled "DeltizNum" and ends with an improvised jam featuring an electric keyboard/synth type noise maker just because. All the tracks and 'jams' are instrumental and under 3 minutes with the exception of the last song, "Jamz with  XEXEXEE" which is the just under 6 minute messing around closer.

I'm actually going to be living near Bangor for a bit soon and while I won't be around the artsy music scene I am around now, I still hope to be introduced to and find some sweet local acts during my time away from home.

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Mouse On The Keys - Machinic Phylum (2012)

Speaking of messing around music-wise, experimental post-jazz-rock outfit, Mouse On The Keys of Tokyo, Japan released a new EP this summer called, 'Machinic Phylum'. As an already big listener of this band, I've been trying not to forget it came out while also waiting patiently for it to make its way onto Spotify - were I finally found it today and previewed it before perusing a DL for it. I also found out today that this EP actually has four tracks on it but sites like Spotify and other streaming devices (or iTunes which I do not wish to advertise), only have the first three tracks with the fourth track, "Memory", no where to be found. I'm not sure if the link above has the fourth track as I haven't DL'd it yet and the link is not mine. If it's not there though, it is on Youtube...

Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention that this totally kills! The third track, "Clinamen" is probably the best song MOTK have released so far! If you are a fan of jazz, post rock, math rock, technical music, or music theory at all; you will surely enjoy this EP and Mouse On The Keys!

 Last.fm

David Liebe Hart Band - Violitionist Session (2012)

In other news, David Liebe Hart of Tim & Eric fame is semi on tour with his (punk rock) band that got started through the help of his fans via his Kickstarter! This is a live set from a Denton, Texas music session called, Violitionist Session where they ask the visiting band or act three questions and play three songs. This is also the first recorded material that I know of by the band and is very well suited with an extended explanation of each song beforehand by David Liebe Hart himself. Grab up all three of the tracks for free on Violitionist Session and be sure to check out other bands' sessions from this site as well as this new punk band that may be storming their way through a town near you!

More by David Liebe Hart and more
David Liebe Hart's official tour "blog"
Last.fm (David Liebe Hart)

On a sadder note though, this may be the last Monday post for a while as I have to go on a short hiatus due to school and dumb stuff like that. But hey, That's life.

There Will Be Fireworks

There Will Be Fireworks - There Will Be Fireworks (2009)

Since I mentioned this album in my last post, I figured I'd post it now for your enjoyment and your ears. Plus, it really does go hand and hand with 'Travels In Constants 13' by Appendix Out, in my opinion.

There Will Be Fireworks is an indie/post rock/shoegaze-y band from Glasgow. Their self-title debut was self-released in 2009 and features a whole bunch or scottish accents, spoken word by Kevin Macneil*, orchestral instrumentation and fanfare, emotional and angsty autumn/spring feels, and yes, even fireworks.

Maybe.

With all the twists and turns of this album like that of changing seasons, you can absolutely tell this album took a year to record. Take it for what it is and ignore the name. Or the haters. Or love the name. Or love the haters.

*The three spoken word bits are performed by:

Kevin Macneil, who lent his voice for the first track, "Columbian Fireworks". The narration was written and recorded exclusively for the band.

and

Marshall Craigmyle, the bands soundman, on the track, "A Kind of Furnace". He was reading a passage from the Ian McEwan book, Enduring Love.

and

Lastly, Edward R. Murrow quickly appears on the end of "Says Aye". Murrow is sampled from a 50's US Government informercial about nuclear warfare.

I sound like I know a lot about this album but I really just read this play-by-play article I found on Scotsman.com. Check it out after or before listening if you want, depending on if you like ruining surprises or not.

Similar acts/sounds: We Were Promised Jetpacks, The Twilight Sad, Frightened Rabbit, Idlewild, My Latest Novel, Arab Strap, The Appleseed Cast, Moving Mountains and more post rock with words/scottish accent bands.

Bandcamp
Official site
Last.fm

Mouse On The Keys

mouse on the keys are making jazz cool again.

Japan's premium jazz post rock extraordinaires perform a balancing trapeze act of can't be stopped piano with unstoppable drumming. 

The band consists of three main musicians,  Akira Kawasaki and Atsushi Kiyota on piano/keyboard and Daisuke Niitome on drums. The two on keys are formerly of Japanese rock band, Nine Days Wonder. Niitome plays a much more heavy and hip hop back beat type of drumming than a traditional light swing feel. Along with piano and drums there is also fits of trumpet and saxophone that are evident in both the EP, sezessions and the full album, an anxious object. It's all really fun. 

sezession (2007)

Favorite track: toccatina 

an anxious object (2009)

Favorite track: seiren 

Last.fm

Official site