Advent day 1: Codes in the Clouds

To start with then a band who produced a solid album this year (As the Spirit Wanes), which has one exceptional track.

For lovers of surf-rock. Enjoy.

Codes in the Clouds - Look Back, Look Up
 Codes In The Clouds – Look Back, Look Up by erasedtapes

who doesn't like trains

Melancholic post-rockers iLiKETRAiNS are back with a new video for their single Sirens.

It’s great to see a band put so much effort into their videos - there is a story to this one, the second part a nautically themed trilogy, which is interesting and also a little haunting. So you have been warned.

CARDINALS

I saw Cardinals play a few months ago now; they were the first on the bill and were a new band who I had never heard of. I didn’t hold out too much hope. But I was pleasantly surprised by a band who came across on stage as old hands at the game. I thought, even then, they would be ones to watch.

A few months later and they’ve released their first EP (which is self titled).

So then, to describe their sound. Well, this is what band member James had to say:

“I'd like to think our sound is a culmination of all our influences; ultimately elements of post-rock and modern indie. It's very guitar-driven, with heavy influence from 90's emo bands and other modern day ambient/crossover stuff like Brand New”.

James, I’d agree with you, but I think you're selling yourselves short a little here. Even after a few listens to the EP you can hear that there is a lot of experimentation. Case and point comes with The Salamander – a track which opens with acoustic guitar, again a pleasant surprise.

I must admit to feeling a bit of a rapport with this band (I suspect every one of a certain age and disposition will too), their experimenting with certain sounds, yet it still sounds very honest.

So then James, what does the future hold for Cardinals:

“We have started writing new material which will hopefully take shape of another EP at some point, we're really keen to carry on writing [and] this year we're going to have a lot more time for writing so it should come together pretty quickly."

Looking forward to it.

Cardinals – EP is out now and can be got from bandcamp. The band will tour in June. 

more WAKING AIDA

Diplopia has done a remix of a Waking Aida song which I featured a while back. You should check it out because it is very, very, very.... good.

Waking Aida - Meanwhile... at Lounge Doom (Diplopia mix)

 Waking Aida - Meanwhil... At Lounge Doom (Diplopia Mix) by Diplopia Music 

Remix ATC? Yes, No

The debut album from Alright The Captain is out now. Well, actually it’s been out for a while. It’s called ‘Snib’ and it is a fairly dense offering as this is a band who try and cram a lot into their 40 minutes.

Highlights for me would certainly be Peanut Worm and Neo Tokyo, though there certainly aren’t any duff tracks. The band are currently on tour and playing London over the next few days and then the rest of Europe.

Word has it that they are releasing a remix EP soon, and are looking for contributions, this is obviously a good thing. Remixes can be submitted on their website, http://bit.ly/fqAsmD .

Aida, an Egyptian princess

Waking Aida are an instrumental four piece from Southampton, and friends of mine to boot. Their brand of post rock is layered with a complexity that marks them out as being talented and v. creative to go with it. Here is their latest finished product, ‘Meanwhile... in Lounge Doom’. On a personal level it is nice to listen to a track I first heard as a rough cut a while back see the light of day as a complete song .

Their live show is also something to beholden; fast paced and lots of flashing lights. There’s an EP on the way I think, I hope. And If you are in London tonight they are playing Proud Camden. And then, possibly, a town near you soon.

National I quite like io's second album day

Birmingham four piece io have their second album out and it’s called ‘Materioptikon’. It’s been out a while on the newly formed Grammatical label, but I’m only discovering it now. First impressions... well it’s an album that’s full of surprises, notably in ‘Silent Hymns in the Dark’ which ends on heavy electronic note which is quite evocative. That bit I hadn’t expected from  a shouty math rock offering.

There is a plethora of choice, not too much never too much, but still an awful lot out there and some bands can really drop off the radar. I hope this band get some sort of recognition, though. Their music is astute (the vocal moments are particularly well timed) and has technical elements to it but is never over the top. Maybe they have received all sorts of acclaim and accolades and I’m just really late to the io party. Who knows, maybe.

The album is out now and available to listen on Spotify.

io - This is Where the Cat Lives

 This Is Where The Cat Lives by IO (weareio) 

Upswing Music

For me Vessels, post rockers from hailing from the land of Emmerdale, have always blown a little hot and cold. With some of their material (Altered Beast) I’m like yeah, yeah, man don’t stop rocking. Other stuff I’m like, meh. The latest offering, The Trap, falls into both categories – I fall in and out love with the song. But at this particular time when I feel like posting, they’ve caught me in an upswing. So here it is.

The album, entitled Helioscope, is out in March, and as I write this I can’t wait for its release.

Vessels - The Trap

 The Trap by Vessels 

With thanks to James for the tip off.