Umberto "Helpless Spectator (Thrill Jockey)"
If you are in the market for moody, atmospheric, synth-driven tunes then look no further than the cinematic sounds of Umberto. Somewhere between Explosions In The Sky, John Carpenter, YLT’s Sounds Of Science, and Hauschka lies Helpless Spectator (Thrill Jockey). Seriously, check the album out. It sounds like all those things and more. Ok, maybe I’m projecting because those are like all my favorite musical aesthetics. But if you respond to them at all then check out the epic build of “Spontaneous Possession.”
Helms Alee "Noctiluca (Sargent House)"
Everybody: Rock and roll is dead. Nobody likes guitars anymore.
Sargent House: Wanna bet?
Hot off the heels of the release of one of the best rock albums in years is last month’s Brutus release, Sargent House has done it again with the release of Helms Alee’s Noctiluca. The melodic metal-esque band (post-something I’m sure?) are back with more riffs and melodies than this month’s issue of Guitar Player Magazine. The trio’s angular riffage and drum beats combine to sound a bit like if Sleep forgot their weed at home mixed with Sleater Kinney. Yeah. This is a fun one. Check out the dramatic shifts of “Spider Jar.”
M83 "Knife + Heart OST (Mute)"
Are you ready for a new M83 album? Well this is it – sort of – the third soundtrack from Anthony Gonzalez, and let’s give out some bonus points as it’s the first record from M83 with founder Nicolas Fromageau since Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts! What ends up landing on your eardrums is a mainly instrumental album (we did say score didn’t we) with some touches of the M83 we know and love (BUILDING? DID I SAY BUILDING? Check out “La Caverne”), with some more 70’s/80’s disco synths from the Junk-era M83 sounds added to the mix. Sound fun? You get 27 jams to roll through but start with the oh so frightening and danceable “Malaria-Thrash Me”.
Mountain Goats "In League With Dragons (Merge)"
Look. You know you wanna hear the new Mountain Goats record regardless of what its deal is. It just so happens, though, that its deal this time around is that it’s sort of about Dungeons & Dragons. In League With Dragons (Merge) is their latest, and if you couldn’t already tell from my spiel and the title… DRAGONS! So while you are waiting for Winter to come, check out “Cadaver Sniffing Dog.”