Demo by Charlie the Knife (2013)

Kind of Like: Elliot Smith, CSTVT, Caravela, Tony Clark

Genres: Indie, Emo, Ambient

Preview:

Charlie the Knife is the solo project of Will McEvilly, the guitarist from CSTVT.  It's pretty exciting seeing anything related to said band come out, and this demo could really be a formal EP.  The sound quality/production is much better sounding than what a lot bands try to pass off as an EP.  Here is a description from Will: "..the project is occasionally ambient/often cheesy power pop about living/behaving poorly in Chicago.  My girlfriend told me it sounds like Elliot Smith meets Cursive and my "too punk for anything" friend said it sounds like something that would be popular on Saddle Creek ten years ago." Listen Here:

This Must Be The Sunks by The RCSN (2012)

Kind of Like: LVL UP, Stereolab, Native America
Genres: Pop, Ambient, Indie
Preview:

This project is the solo effort of Zack Schwartz from Glocca Morra.  After helping establish a portfolio of timeless emo/punk material with said band, it seems that this solo material is a more laid-back outlet for dreamy ambient indie music.  Wait, Glocca Morra already is pretty laid-back in their own right. Oh well, enjoy this release from last year and he also has a teaser track for an upcoming release.

A.M. Transmissions by NyE (2012)

Kind of Like: Nujabes, Will Sessions, Flying Lotus
Genres: Electronica, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Ambient
Preview:

This kid from California is only 17 years old, but he is already starting to make some waves with this debut album.  I feel like it can get redundant at times, but that's the ambient influences bleeding through.  Overall, this creates some really chill soundscapes that I can get down with.  He also seems to be experimenting in other areas as well; "Cellular-17" is dangerously close to what I would call dubstep (womp, womp, womp, womp) but fortunately it still fits with the rest of the album.  It is only fitting that this young producer is still finding his comfort zone with the first release, but I think the real challenge will see how he grows and what he ends up making next.

Listen Here:

Reservoir and Bicycle Ride split (2012)

Kind of Like: Rival Schools, Hot Water Music, Small Brown Bike | Owen, Cloudkicker

Genres: Emo, Post-hardcore

Buy: Store

Preview: 

I got to see a lot of Reservoir back in May when Peace Be Still played a couple shows with them on tour.  As a result, I got to know these guys and listen to their music a bit.  They were really nice guys, and they always put on really energetic and tight sets.  This split features two songs from them that flow together, and one from Bicycle Ride.  I like the guitar work/tone on Bicycle Ride's song a lot that reminds me of Owen and Cloudkicker.  The only aspect of the Bicycle Ride song I have little problem with is how the vocals are mixed, the dual vocal tracks just rub against each other the wrong way for me.  Other then that, like I said, the guitar tone and layering is spot on, and is enough to get me into it.  This is out on cassette and the guys are currently trying to get an independent label to put this out on a 7 inch.  I was going to but I have enough on my plate at the moment.

Listen Here:

The American Dollar - Awake in the City [2012]

For Fans Of: God is an Astronaut, Lights Out Asia, If These Trees Could Talk

Genres: Ambient, Post-rock, Electronic

Spotify: Yep

Preview:

I found these guys while blog-walking last night, and then fell asleep despite wanting to put them on the site right away. The American Dollar started with two good friends living in Queens, NY back in 2005. This means they have been cranking out solid tunes for seven years now, and this longstanding cohesion is evident in what is their most polished release to date, Awake in the City. The post-rock/ambient duo describe themselves as artists who "create pieces that wholly captivate and engage the listener. The duo fuses processed drums, spacious keyboards and powerful organ swells with electric guitar and bass, creating deep sonic textures while maintaining the passion and energy of a live band. The swirling soundscapes build and swell, punctuated by glitchy beats, breathing and expanding into crashing guitars and soaring leads: precisely constructed symphonies for a new era." - Lastfm.

Check out their recent session on Panopticon 360, featuring the track up in the preview, 'Faces in the Haze', as well as 'Friends of Friends':

I'm also a big fan of the Winter Compilation they created back in 2010, which is available to download for free.

Streampad: The American Dollar - Urbana

Yndi Halda - Enjoy Eternal Bliss [2005]

For Fans Of: Godspeed, Mono, I Hear Sirens

Genres: Post-rock, Instrumental, Ambient

Spotify: Yes

Preview:

Here's a Post-rock group from Canterbury, United Kingdom. The band formed back in 2001, and Enjoy Eternal Bliss was their self-released EP that came out back in 2005. I know what you're thinking: "Sigh. Another Post-rock band. Sighhhh". BUT these guys can more than hold their own in this realm. I've been listening to this a lot lately and have yet to even begin to grow tired of it. Once the sprawling violins enter your ears, you won't be able to help but enjoy listening to this. As of right now, they are working on new material, and according to their website, this album will be available on colored vinyl very soon.

Streampad: Yndi Halda - Illuminate My Heart, My Darling!

Opus at the End of Everything by The Flashbulb (2012)

Nerd alert.

Kind of Like: Cloudkicker, Library Tapes, Venetian Snares

Genres: Electronica, Experimental, Ambient, Breakcore, Jazz
Spotify: Yesh
Preview:


I featured Benn Jordan's last album under his alias, The Flashbulb back earlier last year.  That album, Love as a Cold, Dark Hallway, was heavily jazz influenced; more so than most of his other albums.  Most of his work still has a minimal jazz influence whether it be chords or what not, and this new album is no exception.  However, this album reminds me more of the ambiance of Cloudkicker's latest album, Let Yourself Be Huge.  There is very limited jazz and even very limited breakcore involved in this album which ends up being quite a deviation from what you usually hear from Benn Jordan.  That's probably the best part about this guy's music though is that he is always experimenting with himself and his equipment.

I actually found out this new album dropped last night, and it really helped me get through my studies.  It is simply massive as well.  He just came out with Love about a year ago, and then he drops this hour long 25 track album.  Granted, it isn't his most technical and impressive music I have heard, but I highly recommend all of Benn's work, he is a really great musician/composer.

Listen Here:

Streampad: The Flashbulb - It Never Ends

Calista Divine - Calista Divine [2011]

For Fans Of: God is an Astronaut, This Will Destroy You, Mono,

Genres: Post-rock, Ambient, Experimental

Spotify: Nah, but here's their Facebook.

Preview:

We've really been digging bands from overseas as of late, and these four lads are no exception. Hailing from Italy, Calista Divine has some of the coolest band member names I've come across, such as Marco Bologini (bologna?), Riccardo Scaramagli, and Lorenzo Ansenchi. Admittedly, they aren't really doing anything new with their sound, but it's enjoyable nonetheless. They also make great videos to go along with their songs. They're a perfect addition to one's "to be watched whilst tripping" list. Here's an example:

You can get the album via the link below, below, or from their bandcamp. They're working on new material right now - looking forward to that.

††† (Crosses) - EP †† (EP II) [2012]

For Fans Of: Matthew Dear, Deftones,

Genres: Electronic, Experimental, Ambient

Spotify: Yes'm.

Preview:

††† (pronounced "Crosses") is the side project of Deftones singer Chino Moreno, Far guitarist Shaun Lopez, and Scott Chuck. They came out with EP † (I) last year, and this is the follow-up. Pretty catchy electronica with some darker elements mixed in there as well. Moreno described the project as "minimal and soothing and it's sort of like the stuff I like listening to when I'm not screaming my head off." If you like this, you can download their debut EP on their website.

Ps. Click "Download"

Library Tapes - A Summer Beneath The Trees [2008]

For Fans Of: Feeling melancholy

Genres: Ambient, Piano, Experimental

Preview:

I've been meaning to throw this up for a while now. Library Tapes was formed by Swedish musicians David Wenngren and Per Jardsel, who recorded two albums together before Jardsel quit the band in 2006. Wenngren has since continued to release his own material, as well as collaborations with various other artists under various other names, all of which are worth listening to at least once. A Summer Beneath The Trees features him together with Peter Broderik, who complements Wenngren's piano with violin, guitar, accordion, trumpet, celesta, viola, and banjo. When I started to write about this, I honestly had no idea how to truly to describe it, other than to say it's one of those pieces of music you can truly be moved by. I had trouble even deciding which track to put up for the preview, because really you have to listen to the whole thing beginning to end. One track just doesn't cut it. So instead of trying to illustrate how this album might make you feel and why you should listen to it, I'm just going to take a short cut and use another reviewer's, ahem, review, of it. He used the exact words I would have used if I would have thought of them first:

"It's neither a stereotypically sad record nor a happy one - just human, highlighting emotional extremes to imply the whole range between them."

Library Tapes has released a number of other albums, all of which are excellent, and you can preview them all via the bandcamp. Recently, Wenngren announced that he's letting fans buy a small piece of a piano track he's compiling for 5 euro. Basically the idea is that you send him a piano piece you want him to use, and he names it after you or whoever you want it to be named after, and once he has all of them, they will be arranged in a much longer composition he's putting together. All the details/info for the project can be found on his website, or through the Facebook event he created for it. I think it's a really neat project, and a great way to get fans involved.

Drive Soundtrack - 2011

For Fans Of: Matthew Dear, Electric Youth, The Chromatics

Genres: Electronica, Synth Pop, Ambient

Preview:

College feat. Electric Youth - A Real Hero by College

After finally watching this earlier tonight, I am convinced that Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn managed to make one of the best movies of last year. From the unique cinematography, to the suspenseful action/brutal murder scenes, to the great cast (Ryan Gosling - making jean jackets look too good, Carey Mulligan - making short haircuts on girls look too good, Bryan Cranston - of Breaking Bad, Malcolm in the Middle, and Christina Hendricks - of Madmen), and last but not least, the '80s electronica-inspired soundtrack, this movie stands as a truly impressive thriller.

Artists on the soundtrack include: Cliff Martinez, College, and Desire. Just like the movie, it winds back and fourth between calm and calamity; kicking things off with electronica, veering off into a more ambient sound, and then into a darker disco sound. When put together, the score provides a dark, seductive atmosphere. One fan wrote: "Fact: Listening to the Drive soundtrack will make you fifty times cooler", and I couldn't agree more.

So go ahead and grab a lady or gentleman friend, have some wine, and enjoy it, as well as the movie.

Bone Bleached Wooden Teeth by Hunter Gatherer (2010)

I'm probably going to spend the evening trying to find a pair of these Nike Hunter Gatherers that showed up while googling Hunter Gatherer

Kind of Like: Godspeed You!, Sigur Ros, Explosions
Genres: Post-rock, Ambient
Preview:

This is a now defunct band from St. Louis, and they were mainly a post-rock band I would say.  There are times when I say that I am over post-rock, but then another one comes along and I can't help but enjoy it for all the same reasons again.  It is particularly easily to latch onto a band like this when they have a great sense of direction in their music.  For me, post-rock bands need to have that thematic development that invokes something inside of you, particularly when the songs average about 10 minutes long.  The interesting thing about these guys is that they have formed a new band She Hums in Swarms, which apparently will be making a debut EP fairly soon.  It features most members from this band, along with a member of Family Might, and another from a band called Muscle Brain. So, hopefully we will see that come out soon.  It will have singing and be a bit rowdier than Hunter Gatherer.


Listen Here:

Life from Dead Limbs by Iselia (2011)

Kind of Like: Milanku, Prawn, Explosions in the Sky, Beau Navire
Genres: Screamo, Post-rock, Ambient
Preview: Bandcamp

Kind of hard to see ambient and screamo so close together, but these guys rock it anyways.  There are the quiet, atmospheric moments, but they dont't last to long before the vocals and guitars come crashing back in that jolt you back to your senses.  This did rounds around the blogosphere back in the summer, and I am glad I finally took the time to give these guys from North Carolina a fair shake.  They bring something a tad different to the table and it's always nice to see different instrumentation even if it means just throwing a kerboardist in there. Check out "Last Leaf" and "Restless".  Restless is my fave so far. Update: "At Day's Close" is pretty epic too.

Listen Here:

Dive by Tycho (2011)

Kind of Like: Robot Science, Boards of Canada, Postal Service
Genres: Electronica, Ambient
Preview: See above ^

Time for a change of pace.  This is the perfect music to come home to at one in the morning from work after a long day.  It's time to unwind.  I have been digging the screamo lately, but this is working out really good for me at the moment.  Hope you enjoy these soundscapes.  It may not be fore everyone, but at least give it a whirl on the music player above.

Listen Here:

Let Yourself Be Huge by Cloudkicker (2011)

Kind of Like: Owen, Russian Circles, El Ten Eleven
Genres: Post-rock, Ambient, Math Rock, Metal, Progressive
Preview/Buy: Bandcamp

"Cloudkicker is one man progressive metal project from the artist B.M. Sharp, heavily influenced by math metal and post-metal. Sharp utilizes drum machines and custom tuned guitars in his recordings. progressive and instrumental influences are also obvious in his music."
-Last.fm

I didn't think of a progressive metal album when "Welcome Back" started.  In fact, the first thing that came into mind was Owen.  For the most part this is an acoustic/clean album that has various elements of metal/progressive music incorporated into it.  The result is a pretty...pretty album, that feels perfect for the last throws of the fall.  It's quite cozy.

Listen Here:

Inni by Sigur Ros (2011)

Kind of Like: Explosions in the Sky, Radiohead, The Album Leaf
Genres: Ambient, Post-rock

Preview: 

Looks like I am selling out today with these posts.  But, this album has been getting great reviews, so I thought I would give it a try.  It sounds pretty good, but this is actually a film, and to get the full effect, I hear you have to see it as well as listen to it.  If I learned anything from watching "Hoppipola" is that they are able to make films that goes with their music that will tug at your emotions like no other.  Once again, I will rely on someone posting this in the comments if they choose to because I put it on here, it is going down pretty quick.

Of Whom I Always Think by Damascus (2011)

Kind of Like: Explosions in the Sky, GY!BE, Talons, Russian Circles
Genres: Post-rock, Ambient, Shoegaze, Metal
Preview: Bandcamp

This link popped up in the Turntable room I was in yesterday, and I tried them out.  They are like a lot of post-rock bands but they have more of a metal feel to them at times. The album, loosely based on the striving and struggles of Nikola Tesla, is available for free stream and download on their Bandcamp page.

Listen Here

The White EP by Agalloch (2008)

Genre: Neofolk, Dark Ambient

Akin to: The Morning Side, Les Discrets, Devin Townsend

Listen Here

Agalloch is a fairly old band, formed in 1995 in Portland, Oregon. This 2008 EP is a follow up of The Grey EP recorded over a three year period Agalloch combines dark ambience with a metal folk sound that is unbeatable for its genres. If you enjoy this music you should research into their Pale Folklore full album. Listening to this band at full blast in moderate lighting is a sure-fire way to simultaneously release tension, alienate everybody, and enhance your active forms of escapism.

Indian Summer - Science 1994 (2002)

Fans of: Futurerecordings label music

Listen at : Bandcamp

Look at: Delirious LP (2010 DO NOT LISTEN)

I highly recommend this album to any fans of avante garde hardcore. for 2002 I feel this was progressively loud and a great post punk effort. They did some recent changes to the album, after their second LP released and all I can think is I'm a continent away, but man can Vancouver throw a party, they hear it from California too.

Amesoeurs : Swallowed By the Hive... LP (2009)

Like: its like stepping into a past that hardly happens and no one ever sings about....i got nothin

Genre: Black Metal, experimental, lore, post punk

Proceed to: Listen Here , Download Here

Something about a self titled album cleverly opens that avenue towards classic beyond a description that might perish. in ease it may remind me of my college days. at moments you feel that each note is fresh and often also that you're watching a really awesome movie scene. I think its the fact that this three piece is absolutely crazy, that with talent at that level, musicians can became unappreciative of everything but their own art. Be it as it may, they kicked it.

"Amesoeurs is a spit, the only way we have to spew out the anxiety and frustration tied to the difficulties of existence and the pursuit of happiness in our modern society. "