MONO "Requiem For Hell"
MONO has spent nearly 20 years playing and recording some of the most dramatic instrumental post-rock we have ever heard. Requiem For Hell (Temporary Residence) will do little to shake you of that opinion. It is gorgeous. It is instrumental. It is dramatic. Bonus: It is recorded by Steve Albini. The band smartly went back to recording with the analog wizard for this emotional album. Every tune a movie for your mind. So prepare your brain theater for the Explosions In The Sky sounds of “The Last Scene.”
Oozing Wound "Whatever Forever"
“So refreshingly anti-bullshit are Oozing Wound that they could conceivably turn out to be the Nirvana of thrash.” So said Noisey. That is some heavy praise. But it totally works. These dudes love music, love making music, and have no pretensions about themselves. They write songs about nonexistent Rambo movies, their favorite episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space 9, late cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov, and other awesome things for dudes to write songs about. All the while, the drums roll, the guitars buzz, and the vocals are screamed. This is not a passive listen. Whatever Forever (Thrill Jockey) is thrash metal at it’s punishing best. Check out the relentless “Tachycardia.”
Sybarite "Waver The Absolute"
Look, being ex-Silver Apples would likely be enough awesomeness for any musician. But not for Xian Hawkins. His output under his solo moniker Sybarite is the kind of exciting, abstract, experimental electronic music record collectors drool over. Those collectors mouths must be rather dry, as it has been 10 years since there has been a Sybarite release.Well, wait no more dry mouthed record collectors!! Waver The Absolute (Temporary Residence) is here to break that hiatus (and the dry mouth syndrome). Organic and electronic, it shares some of the same sonic space as Dan Deacon or even fellow labelmate Paul De Jong. Check out the swirling vibes of “Valence.”
Purling Hiss "High Bias"
Philly psych rockers Purling Hiss are back! High Bias (Drag City) is everything you love about the trio. 6 albums into their career, and they are only getting better with each release. Fuzzed out garage rock a la Cali’s Ty Segall scene, plus a bit of the new/old brit-psych a la The Apples In Stereo (note to self: you aren’t allowed to say “a la” for at least 30 blurbs) and the gauzy reverb rock of Black Mountains. Check out the albums first track, the viral symptoms of “Fever.”