[2011] Horseback/Locrian - New Dominions

The new collaboration between Horseback and Locrian is here, released in no other label but Utech Records. Two tracks clocking around 20min in total; my favorite being Our Epitaph, focusing in building upon the song structure using a breathtaking layering, involving Locrian's ever present tremolo-picked chords and Horseback's galloping slow riffing, accompanied by sparse drumming turning the song in a heavy trip. The Gift goes the opposite way, setting an eerie mood with the slow, crashing guitars complementing the piano and layered harsh vocals. Short but compelling release.

Buy it directly from Utech Records here.

[2011] Larsen & Z'EV - In V.Tro

Half recorded during live sessions and another half recorded in studio, this collaboration was commissioned as a "soundtrack for micro-cinematic images on the study of cells", as a tribute to Giuseppe Levi, who researched and exploited the great potential of the in vitro technique, which gives name to this album. Aside from the interesting backstory, Larsen proves again that they shine in collaborative projects. Z'EV delivers his usual experimental approach to percussion to the mix, giving it a strong abstract feel while Larsen controls the mood of the album with its minimalist guitar and synth pair. Somewhat similar to their Nurse With Wound collaboration, Larsen sticks to their minimalistic post-rock side bordering in drone while Z'EV takes care of the bizarre background.

Download it here: [V0][FLAC]

Buy it directly from Important Records here.

[2006] Circle - Miljard

Very unlike most of their back catalog, Miljard is Circle's most obvious ambient album, which still has a few motorik tingles, but it's mostly slow and drawn out. If you enjoy that side of them or if you're a fan of low key, guitar-oriented post-rock, you might enjoy this album. Personally I think it's good (in a complete different direction), 2CD's full of  great ambient music which the short bursts of intensity the band is known for.

Download it here: [320: Part 1 Part 2][V0]


Buy it directly from Ektro Records here.

[2009] Hotel Belvedere - Tomorrow

In the same instrumental rock and ambient vein of bands like Grails, Tim Hecker and Machinefabriek, Hotel Belvedere (a british solo project) goes for a similar approach by using mostly tape loops and minimal guitar chord arrangements to create a soft, cinematic feel with his music. Most of the electronic elements in this album (particularly the use of looped samples) and rock arrangements are kept under the same overall tone, so every song is almost a continuation of the previous, perfect for full album listens.
I should also mention that for an extremely underground musician, the mixing is really good (which I rarely hear nowadays), and it means there was a sensible production behind this album.

Download and support the band here.

[2010] Sailors With Wax Wings - Sailors With Wax Wings

What in my opinion was the best collaboration project back in 2010, Sailors With Wax Wings debut is one of the most interesting works I've listened so far in their style. Conformed by Ted Parsons (Swans, Jesu), Hildur Guðnadóttir, James Blackshaw (Brethen of The Free Spirit), Colin Marston (bassist of Gorguts, Dysrhythmia and Behold... The Arctopus), Aidan Baker (Nadja), Simon Scott (Slowdive), Prurient and the folks from Pyramids, this album shouldn't be considered as a mix of all the aforementioned bands, but a completely new sound that ranges from shoegaze, modern classical, drone music, neofolk at some parts, and post-rock ethos. Heavily layered and complex, there's not a single moment in this album that doesn't grab your attention with its melodic trance. Bearing a vague resemblance to the collab Pyramids + Nadja, this album explores that same dense atmosphere and gives it a larger range, allowing the listener to discover new parts of the whole at every new listen.

Download it here: [V0]


Buy it directly from Angel Oven Records here.

[2010] Mamiffer / House of Low Culture - Uncrossing / Ice Mole

Latest release of House of Low Culture (3/4 ISIS, 1/4 Stephen O'Malley), a primarily drone-doom/field recordings band, and Mamiffer (Aaron Turner, Faith Cocciola), a post-rock/ambient project. Admittedly not much of a fan of ISIS-related works (let alone Aaron Turner), but I considered this split to be quite interesting. My favorite side is House of Low Culture's, with a rumbling, subtle bass dragging all the way until the end while the seemlingly natural, earthly sounds swirl away; but Mamiffer's side, with the slow, chilling piano is also a highlight on this split.

Download it here: [320][V0]


Buy it directly from Utech Records here.

[1999] Tarentel - From Bone To Satellite

First album of what I consider one of the best second wave post-rock bands that came out of USA.Coming from the same circle that later would release projects such as Sonna and The Drift, this is Tarentel's most post-rock/jazz focused album. It's very unlike their canadian counterparts that were around at the same time as them, they use a dense style of playing where the crescendos and buildups are usually arranged over the already present grounds. Also, when I say this is their "most" post-rock album it's because they progressively turn into a free improvisation quartet, which is great since I love that stuff. Ghetto Beats In The Surface of The Sun is one of these albums in which every successive listen unveils more and more. From Bone To Satellite has some of that, so it's not your passive post-rock band with nothing special going on.

Download it here: [320][V0]


Buy it directly from Temporary Residence Limited here.

[2008] The (Fallen) Black Deer - Requiem

Josh Graham (from Neurosis, A Storm of Light and associated acts) and Greg Burns joined forces together for this Latitudes release, in which they used their creativity and skill for what they consider to be an "alternative soundtrack for The Shining". Dark ambient tracks with hints of menacing post-rock are the main elements that comprise this 25min album, in which you can almost feel the aura of uneasiness that characterizes the famous horror movie.Quiet at times, it delivers a lush of emotions on the next minutes, retaining the listener's attention for as long as the album lasts. Perhaps the only flaw is how short it is, and how it falls flat compared to their associated acts, but seeing as its focus is to be an entirely ambient album, it serves its purpose.

Download it here: [V0]

Buy it directly from Southern Records here.

[2010] Larsen & Nurse With Wound - Erroneous: A Selection Of Errors

Now this is a very weird Nurse With Wound collab, and while that might sound strange considering it's Stapleton the one I'm talking about here after all, this is, for the most part, a post-rock release, thanks to Larsen (post-rock band from Italy, which has a long career and some other collabs floating around). It starts out the same way one would expect of a NWW release, a noisy intro followed by an electronic krautrock sound reminiscent of Amon Düül at times, focusing a lot on Fritz Muller's vocals, then it switches to an ambient track, courtesy of both Larsen and Nurse With Wound and which sounds similar to Salt Marie Celeste at some points. Then a somewhat dark post-rock section breaks out and that's where the strangeness begins: the whole album shifts mood and seamlessly turns into a peaceful, uplifting post-rock album. Post-rock fans might find this interesting, though it probably won't be up to the expectations of a regular Nurse With Wound fan, seeing as it doesn't have the same amount of manipulation one would assume from a collab of this nature. Still is a great release and I believe it deserves special attention.

Download it here: [V0]

Buy it directly from Important Records here.