[1993] Stereolab - The Groop Played ''Space Age Batchelor Pad Music''

As of lately, my go-to choice for Stereolab. One of their earliest albums, while it seems softer than Peng!, in here the motorik-fueled beats are more accentuated than in their next albums, even featuring an obvious Neu! homage. There's some noisy tracks that resemble what they'll later do in "Transient Random..." but in a more digestible package. Perfect for fans and starters alike.




Buy it directly from CD Universe here.

[2008] The Skull Defekts - The Drone Drug

With an almost unapproachable output that hardly resembles their apparent influences (Wire, Can and a few others), The Skull Defekts' trance-inducing noise/post-punk is left behind in favor of relentless feedback noise, manipulated as abrasive electronic drone, that might have more in common with Yellow Swans than bands akin to Earth or Sunn O))). Worth giving a listen.

Download it here: [V0]

Buy it directly from Release The Bats here.

[2004] Grey Daturas - Dead In The Woods

This is one of the bands I consider one of my main influences to explore and compose music on my own, which could've had a full decade of existence in 2012 if they hadn't disbanded in early 2010. Grey Daturas was an australian collective of improvisers, with influences ranging from Sonic Youth, Black Sabbath, Can and many others, which in turn gave the band an eclectic style. Of course being an improvisational group meant that none of their songs were neither rehearsed nor repeated, and well rooted into the heaviest noise rock with doom metal hints, and even in some cases, drone-doom (in the vein of Earth), as seen in the Yellow Swans collab which was well received by many music critics.
Grey Daturas broke up but it resurfaced shortly as the duo known as Breathing Shrine, with Bonnie Mercer (guitar) and Rob Mayson (drums), and keeping with the heavy live output that made them famous.

Download it here: [V0]


Buy it directly from Breathing Shrine/Grey Daturas official site here.

[2009] The Low Frequency In Stereo - Futuro

Futuro is the noisiest, most daring effort of this norwegian band which has been likened to bands like Stereolab and Radiohead in the past (particularly the former), but in the reality is more than just that. Noisy riffs reminiscent of the no-wave era and heavy motorik drums akin to Neu! (along with the bold use of feedback) are the most obvious highlights here, but the combination of female and male vocals with a garage rock feel, and the campy, light sound of the trumpet (like in the song Solar System) makes this band really stand out as it deserves.

Download it here: [320][V0]


Buy it directly from Rune Grammofon here.

[2007] Ultralyd - Conditions For A Piece of Music

The least accessible Ultralyd album, focusing more into free jazz and improvisation to a greater extent, compared to their latest efforts. It still has plenty of energetic moments in which the best of their noise-rock/jazz fusion is displayed, but it also focuses on their darkest aspects with guitar-oriented free improv, one half of the album. This is sort of a middle ground album, and it could please those already familiar with bands like MoHa!, since it swings that way at several parts with its dissonant noise-rock.

Download it here: [320][V0]

Buy it directly from Rune Grammofon here.

[2007] The Austerity Program - Black Madonna

With obvious nods to artists and bands like Shellac and Glenn Branca (specially the former), The Austerity Program still manages to distance themselves from both projects by creating a less dense, energetic series of (mostly) instrumental songs with a strictly followed sense of dynamics and bizarre rhythm. Nothing much else can be said about this project aside that, as a duo, the resulting product is worth paying attention to.

Download it here: [320][V0]

Buy it directly from Hydra Head Records here.

[2011] Boris with Merzbow - Klatter

Formerly known as Mellow Peak and due to be released years ago, it's the latest original collab between Boris and Merzbow since Sun Baked Snow Cave. Musically speaking it's closer to the original material in Rock Dream (the noisiest jams present on the first disc) and the best moments out of classic albums like Feedbacker, with the buzzed out solos and heavy, reverberated riffiing. Even though it has the least drone-oriented material they've released with Merzbow (which isn't a bad thing at all) it just shows they're capable of taking the best of their rock-oriented material and level it to heavier grounds.

Download it here: [V0]


Buy it directly from Daymare Recordings here (recommend using Google Translate).

[1991] Swell Maps - A Trip To Marineville

One of the main pioneers of the british post-punk scene, Swell Maps was the main band of the Godfrey Brothers, known as Nikki Sudden and Epic Soundtracks, both prominent figures of their time. A Trip To Marineville represents one of their best efforts, containing most of the ideas that were later influential for some of the most experimental post-punk that came later, due to its constants dwellings in noise, punk rock and free improvisation. Excellent album which seamlessly combines energetic punk with noise ballads, which later inspired bands with the caliber of Sonic Youth.

Download it here: [V0]


Buy it directly from Mute Records here.

[1997] Shallow North Dakota - This Apparatus Must Be Earthed

Another canadian noise-rock/sludge band, sadly disbanded at the moment. This is their second LP out of three released in their whole career, and in my opinion their best; it's interesting to note that the vocalist is also the drummer, which is not as common in this genre as it would be desired. Great material overall, reminds me sometimes of more recent bands like Kowloon Walled City and KEN mode (which is to be expected of the latter considering they belong to the same country scene).

Download it here: [320][V0]


Buy it directly from Sonic Unyon Records here.

[2007] Hide Your Daughters - The Teen Girl's Guide To Social Success

Same band members of Electro Quarterstaff and KEN mode, it combines the technicality and unpredictability of the former and the noisy heaviness of the latter and gives it a melodic take on noisy sludge. Only LP so far though (and somewhat short, 37min), but it definitely deserves some attention, considering how unlike any other I've heard is, within the genre. Give it a try!

Download it here: [V2][V0]


Buy it directly from Arctodus Records here.

[2008] KEN mode - Mennonite

In the brand of sludge I've enjoyed the most lately (noise-rock/sludge, bands like Kowloon Walled City and Shallow North Dakota), KEN mode has delivered 3 solid albums in the course of 5 years, Mennonite being the latest (Venerable would be the 4th, to be released in 2011) and best effort so far. The songs are heavy, with hints of math-rock here and there, from musicians well familiarized with the genres and capable of delivering excellent music.

Download it here: [256][V0]


Buy it directly from Arctodus Records here.

[2008] One Second Riot - One Second Riot

My latest discovery, product of a split with Neptune, this french post-punk/noise-rock band really fits the association with Neptune. Released their debut in 2008, this band imprints a depressive take on the experimental post-punk coming from bands like Swell Maps and This Heat, while adding a heaviness not unlike hardcore. There's a The Cure cover floating around which is one of the best covers I've heard, since the vocalist sounds very similar to Robert Smith, which fits the vibe. Definitely check this out, hopefully you won't regret it.

Updated!
Download it here: [256][V0]


Buy it directly from Music Fear Satan here.

[2005] Among The Missing - Disorder of The Templar

Formed by one of the guys that will later be part of Pombagira for a while, Among The Missing is fast, raw sludge with a nice noise rock touch, closer sometimes to hardcore punk. This band maybe disbanded way too early, since a good deal of this album might be among the best I've heard in the genre.Truly recommended to the fans of heavy sludge with a badass attitude, similar to Fistula and Thou (if they were faster). I have their split with Blood Island Raiders, so I'll probably upload that in the future too.

Download it here: [320][V0]

Buy it directly from Withered Hand Records here.

[2010] Acid Eater - Black Fuzz on Wheels

Masonna's noise rock band, Acid Eater only calls for badassery. Awesome rock tunes, showing a side of Masonna that's closer to regular music than his other works. Certainly one of this year's highlights of the genre.

Download it here: [320]

[2010] Aural Fit - 無貌無想 (Mubomuso)

Psychedelic noise-rock, with a big emphasis in noise, is what Aural Fit is about. This japanese trio, like many of their contemporaries, created a highly dissonant album full of noise and dark atmospheres in which psychedelics is the main purpose. Definitely not for the faint, this album will surely please fans of the genre.

Download it here: [V0]

Buy it directly from Utech Records here.

[REQUEST] [2002] The Flying Luttenbachers - Retrospektiw IV

Second compilation of non-album tracks, previously unreleased by The Flying Luttenbachers, the first one called Retrospektiw III and released under the same label, ugEXPLODE.

Download it here: [192][V2][V0]

[REQUEST] [2006] Noxagt / Ultralyd - Noxagt / Ultralyd

A small sample of the Norwegian experimental scene in this short split, two bands: the heavy noise-rockers of Noxagt paired with the bizarre free-jazz of Ultralyd (also part of the Rune Grammofon roster) deliver an atypical display of what we're used to from both bands. Noxagt's music in this split is noisier, less focused on rock standards, while Ultralyd's music becomes more abstract and random, similar to their most electic albums (Conditions for a Piece of Music comes to mind). All in all an interesting release that should please the expectations of its audience.

Download it here: [192][V2][V0]

Buy it on HMV here. Unavailable through Textile Records.