SOMAFREE INSTITUTE : Exit Signal

SOMAFREE INSTITUTE, the heavy synth trio of Andrew Crawshaw(keys), Justin Thomas Kleine(keys), and Tim Call(drums) have been honing their skills as songwriters and musicians for a few years now. Combining the sonic explorations of 70s electronic titans Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze and Vangelis with the more modern sound worlds of Zombi and Sinoia Caves. Over […]

Morph Stereo : Here We Are

Keith Canisius returns once again as Morph Stereo for another round of hazy, ambient modular cosmic trips. This time with the 3-song EP Here we are. A blend of Krautrock and early 80s experimental electronic music, Canisius blends all of of the vibes of his other musical projects(Rumskib/Astral TV/Shortwave Broadcaster) into one immersive experience as […]

Marine Eyes : To Belong

The eloquent, hushed sound world of Cynthia Bernard, aka Marine Eyes, is one of mystery and ethereal soundscapes. Combining heavily-effected guitar, subtle synthesizers, and her own layered vocals, Bernard creates records of dream-like beauty and crystalline visions. Her ambient recordings are not unlike stepping into another world, one built from a foundation of longing for […]

Dawn Chorus and the Infallible Sea : Reveries

Over the last couple of years I’ve started painting. Acrylics, canvas, and my imagination lay out some simple vision that sits in my head waiting to reveal itself through hand, brush, and color palate. The urge to communicate something from heart to head to canvas. This is not to say I find myself particularly good […]

Cloud Nothings : Final Summer

Cloud Nothings arrived seemingly fully formed in 2011. The punk rock swagger, post-punk indifference, and songwriting prowess of singer/guitarist/songwriter Dylan Baldi was already in place. His bedroom solo project became an actual rock trio, and after releasing two albums written and performed by Baldi the trio recorded Attack On Memory with Steve Albini at Electrical […]

High on Fire : Cometh The Storm

It’s been over 5 years since the last High on Fire album, the Lemmy-worshipping Electric Messiah. Since then HoF singer/guitarist/resident conspiracy theorist Matt Pike has dealt with health issues, marriage, divorce, and a solo album titled Pike vs The Automaton. Pike vs The Automaton was essentially a High on Fire album, minus HoF bassist Jeff […]

The Jesus And Mary Chain : Glasgow Eyes

The Jesus and Mary Chain have been a staple of the shoegaze/noise-pop community for 40 years, releasing their debut Psychocandy in 1985. Blurry, fuzzy, and noisy, Psychocandy was unlike anything else out at the time. The next album to make such a sonic statement was My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless six years later. Though brothers William […]

Vampire Weekend : Only God Was Above Us

Vampire Weekend are one of those bands that you either love or loathe. They have charm about them, but also a preciousness that turns off curmudgeonly old hipsters that don’t think they’re actually hipsters. On the other hand the band has songwriting chops and intellectually inviting lyrics thanks to singer/songwriter Ezra Koenig. Koenig can make […]

METZ : Up On Gravity Hill

Canada’s METZ arrived in the early 2010s in what seemed like a resurgence in the post-punk community. Along with fellow Canadians Preoccupations(formerly Viet Cong) and the Motor City’s Protomartyr it seemed as if post-punk was getting a 21st century kick in the pants. METZ was the loudest of the three, with singer/guitarist Alex Edkins guitar […]

Mr. Jones’ Takes The Spotlight : Breaking Down Elvin Jones’ ‘Poly-Currents’

There’s plenty of amazing jazz drummers, but for my money one of the most powerful with the most finesse was Elvin Jones. Jones gained notoriety for being part of John Coltrane’s great quartet, along with McCoy Tyner(piano), Jimmy Garrison(bass), and of course Coltrane. Tony Williams, Jack DeJohnette, Philly Joe Jones, Billy Cobham, Rashied Ali, and […]