Better Know a Genre: Five Post-Rock Bands You’ll Probably Love
-Written by Kevin Madert
Earlier this week, Explosions in the Sky put out a highly anticipated record called The Wilderness. It’s less a step in any specific new direction than a pivot around the central themes and styles that have defined their career – one foot stays grounded in their post-rock roots while the other spins through sonic inspirations ranging from spacey electronica to down-home folk.
Listening to The Wilderness a few times through inspired a digital crate-diving adventure courtesy of Spotify. After much clicking around, and even more headphone isolationism, here are a few bands amply equipped to satiate your post-rock craving. Some should be familiar to long-time fans of the genre, while others may be brand new to readers (much as they were to this writer).
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Frequency of the Week No. 7: Tides of Man
You may have heard all the hooplah about the new Dance Gavin Dance album, if you read this blog at all, I’d say it would be pretty difficult to miss it. But in case you aren’t hip, Instant Gratification will be the second full length album from DGD with Tillian Pearson fronting the band. Tillian is far from new to the scene, he had previous played with Rise Records labelmates, Tides of Man. Tides of Man played to a similar crowd, representing the more technical side of the genre, though they were always more polished than Dance Gavin Dance. They were the Envy on the Coast to Dance Gavin Dance’s The Fall of Troy, for all five of you that will understand that analogy.
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Review: Godspeed You! Black Emperor – Asunder, Sweet, and Other Distress
Written by: Mike Hogan
Writing a review of a Godspeed You! Black Emperor is a tricky thing, honestly. They’re such a monumental figure in the post-rock scene; anybody who could possibly be reading this review is already well aware of what they’re getting into. And then of course, there isn’t really anyone quite like GY!BE. The post-rock sound can get pretty unique and eclectic, but there truly is no band quite like these guys. The only benchmark is themselves, but that is a rather lofty benchmark, indeed.
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News: Godspeed You! Black Emperor Announces New Album, Song Excerpt
–Written by Michael Hogan
Today is a very exciting day for us here at Alternate Frequency, and indeed fans of post-rock (and good music) everywhere. Earlier today, post-rock royalty Godspeed You! Black Emperor announced the follow-up to their 2012 full-length album Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!.
Their newest album, Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress will be released through Constellation Records on March 31st, so thankfully there will be no long waits for this one.
In addition, GY!BE released an 8 minute excerpt from the opening track, “Peasantry or ‘Light! Inside of Light!’”. This selection showcases the signature dissonant, droning, booming sound that has made the band icons of the post-rock scene. If this track is to set the tone for the album, Asunder, Sweet and other Distress will surely be just as colossal as their previous work.
Check out the clip and get a full track listing below. Don’t forget to pick up Asunder, Sweet and other Distress on March 31st – not to mention check back here for a full review. In the meantime, be sure to let us know what you think in the comments!
- Peasantry or “Light! Inside of Light!”
- Lambs’ Breath
- Asunder, Sweet
- Piss Crowns Are Trebled
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New Tune Tuesday (1/13/15)
–Written by Kevin Madert
Jax From The Future – 3015
Many of us spend large portions of our lives worrying about “the future,” – this intangible period of time that’s consistently laid out before us but impossible to lay our hands on. Then there are those of us who possess such innate talent and tastemaking ability that such fears are rendered irrelevant. Friend of the blog Jax From The Future falls into the latter category, and his newest tune “3015” showcases not only his production range but his desire to dive headfirst into the unknown, leading the charge rather than waiting for another artist to pave the way. The four-minute tune traverses a taut tightrope, balancing the structural framework of future bass against subtle but present deep house stylings. The lengthy intro sees Jax testing out his MIDI drum prowess (a skill he’s recently added to his live arsenal), altering the feel of the tune multiple times without making any drastic shifts in tempo. By the time the drop kicks in with those quasi-upbeat, shuffling synths (think Two Fresh with darker intentions) you’re immersed in the sonic realm of the song, something he has a nifty knack for accomplishing. Because he calls home the place many of us fear, Jax From The Future gives us novel and forward-thinking music by default – a feat that finds bloggers like myself counting the days until his next release.
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