Pleasureboaters- !Gross!

This is a great recent release from Seattle punk group Pleasureboaters. There's a everpresent, urgent energy to this band as they scream and shatter their way through this selection of songs. The singers voice sounds similar to Cedric Bixler-Zavala from the Mars Volta. This may be a double edged sword in some respects because it will both entice and deter listeners. In saying that Pleasureboaters sound nothing like the Mars Volta. They constantly balance between No-Wave destruction of instuments and voices and more recent New York dance punk trends.

This link is to a streaming of their new album. Its well worth a listen.


http://www.fanaticpromotion.com/projects/pleasureboaters/ecard/card.html

Witch Hats- Cellulite Soul

Drawing inspiration from a long linage of great Australian swampy punks Witch Hats explode onto the scene with their first full length album Cellulite Soul. This group have been slowly burning away, pacing and preying for their rightful turn in the limelight. The traditional Australian mixture of bone crunching bass guitar and a screeching lead combined with dry, dark and often humorous lyrics show their musical and cultural upbringing.

The band often compared to the Birthday Party and the Scientists but only for their link to early Australian punk rock. Their sound is too sludgy and not as angular and their lyrics are young and upstart.

Key track: Helhole

More later….maybe


http://rapidshare.com/files/98291932/Cellulite_Soul.rar.html

My Disco- Paradise

Progressively over the years My Disco has scraped, stripped and screeched their way into a sound of their own. The beginnings of the band spawned from the rubble of Clann Zu, a much loved Melbourne band led by Declan De Barra. When Declan left back to Europe brothers Liam and Ben Andrews took My Disco to full time status. Starting as a typical punk band the two, with the help of Rohan Rebiero, explored as many ideas as possible. From this initial pool of ideas the band slowly whittled their music down to a skeletal, minimalistic punk sound. This transition has been developed over 2 albums and several EPs.

Their latest release, Paradise, sees the band at their most stripped back to date. The exploration of minimalism, especially in a punk context is extremely exciting and it will be intriguing how far the band can push this. Most of the songs barely move to a second note. In writing this may sound terrible. What one must remember though is that the process to reach this sound can only be achieved through countless hours of aural exploration. The fact that Steve Albini produced the album strengthens their sound considering Albini is sympathetic to the bands aspirations and desires not to mention his undeniable skill as a producer.


http://rapidshare.com/files/96865086/Paradise.rar.html

Bowerbirds- Hymns for a Dark Horse

Bowerbirds are a folk music from North Carolina. Their debut album Hymns for a Dark Horse was released last year. I thought the name was interesting considering there is a Melbourne band with the same name. The Melbourne birds are a rock band while these three are gypsy-folk and all with surreal lyrics, marching band beats and accordions.

This is a new band and it can be heard clearly on the record. The takes are raw and it genuinely sounds like three people playing in a room…which is a good thing. Highlights are Bur Oak and Olive Hearts.

http://www.mediafire.com/?5xzxbnimjgv

Yellow Swans- Bring the Neon War Home

This is the debut album (2003) from Portland band Yellow Swans. Based around electronic experimentation and manipulation of guitar feedback and distortion the band creates a dense backdrop peppered with click and glitches. The opener, Police eternity, immediately jumps into dark thrashing guitars mixed with dumpster lid drums.

One thing I was surprised about this album is the variation from song to song. Beginning with hollow screams mixed with synthetic beats the album also explores sparser, extensive terrain with (Untitled). It is common for experimental noise groups to forget rhythmic beat in the hope to achieve a unique sound.. The highlight of the album is Neon War. The song is driven by a constant rhythm that does not restrict its development instead guiding it into ever darker and heavier territory.

http://rapidshare.com/files/94147514/Yellowswans.rar.html

The Future

Hey,

Today was the first day back at university and reality has hit. My time for crapping on about music has drastically diminished. Hopefully I will be able to keep up with the posts but there will be much less writing.

-Dot eyes