To Destroy A City

Formed in the summer of 2010 with ambitions of collectively fusing the inspiration of many styles and genres into integrated, emotive, compositional pieces, Chicago based trio To Destroy A City have begun their musical life with quite elevated intentions. In many ways so, they are quite fortunate that their eponymous debut, released in September, reaches and surpasses these lofty goals.

The industrious trio of Andrew Welch, Jeff Anderson and Michael Marshall it would seem have wasted little time since their inception, writing the bulk of the material for the record within two months. And while other new bands may spend countless hours fretting over small details about their debut release, To Destroy A City with an obvious inherent confidence in their music and their ability have promptly produced an album ripe with simplistic, trance inducing, ethereally layered compositions that drift through the darkness and light that constitute the complexity of this human condition.

Perfect examples of this foray through the darkness and light litter the album but it is with track Illium that it resonates the finest. It begins with the albums only trace of vocal, a haunting narrated sample of T.S Eliots, The Hollow Men, filling the milieu with the spiritual journey of Eliot’s fellowmen towards salvation and away from despair before exploding into a joyous chorus of reverb drenched guitars and immense synth. Other notable tracks include The Marvels of Modern Civilisation, a short, pulsating tip of the hat to Manchester’s highly influential New Order and the wistful melancholia that is Goodbye, Dear Friend. In truth there is no real blip throughout the forty or so minutes that make up To Destroy A City instead just a very free flowing, superbly crafted debut offering.

For, To Destroy A City to reach the point they are at now in such a short space of time is absolutely mind blowing and one can only envision a very bright future for misters Welch, Anderson and Marshall. To Destroy A City is an album for fans of Boards of Canada, The American Dollar or for anyone who appreciates brilliantly structured ambient infused electronic post rock.

Visit their website here

Introducing: Leaflog

Leaflog are a young Irish instrumental band falling under the loose (and quickly becoming looser) heading of post rock. Believing words to be flawed, the band use thoughtful melody, screeching guitars, blissful chimes and clouds of effected space to express the variety of human emotion through music.

The band hailing from Kerry, is currently four members strong, Padraig Daly - guitar, Sean Daly - guitar/synth, Dave Kissane - bass, Shane O'Neill - drums, but the complexity of human emotion called for more instruments to become involved, so clarinet, piano, xylophone, strings and trumpets were drafted in for the recording of the band's first EP Mayday. The EP was recorded in the summer of 2010 in the Cork School of Music and released that September. On the back of this Leaflog were commissioned to compose an original score for renowned New York based filmmaker Bill Morrisons experimental film Decasia, which they performed live at the Kerry Film Festival.

2011 has seen the band busy writing new material which they are planning to record over Christmas for a planned release date early next year. For the moment you can catch their brilliant live show when the band plays the hard Working Class Heroes festival in Dublin this October.

Interview with Hands

Before releasing Creator, their second album and first for Facedown Records, in 2009, hardcore experimentalists Hands had self released their debut EP The Everlasting, written a concept album The Sounds of Earth and assiduously toured the length and breath of the United States. However, with the strains both emotionally and financially that came with this, the band moved away from full time touring and ended up recording arguably their finest and most creative work to date, the captivating Give Me Rest. We recently caught up with the bands guitarist/vocalist Shane Ochsner who explained more.

What music did you listen to growing up and did this inspire you to want to be in a band?

Shane Ochsner: I’d say the most influential bands for me growing up (in order of appearance) were Audio Adrenaline, Limp Bizkit, Living Sacrifice, The Luti-Kriss, Sevendust, Misery Signals, Jimmy Eat World.

Could you tell us a little bit about how the band got together?

SO: Our drummer Josh and I have been playing in bands together, since were 13 years old. In 2007, he and I connected about playing music together again. We recruited our bass player Chris, and our long time friend Ian, and went to work! We started Hands as a weekend warrior project. Just playing shows whenever we could, and writing when the opportunity presented itself. Shortly after playing our first few shows, doors started opening for us everywhere. We were being invited to play big festivals, open for bigger bands, touring, etc... It was crazy, and totally unexpected! We eventually released “The Everlasting EP”, and things just always moved forward from there!

Give Me Rest is the bands fourth release, how would you describe the progression in your music?

SO: It had been over 2 years since we had written any music together. The last thing we had done was “Creator”, which had been written only a month after writing/recording our “Sounds Of Earth” album, and only 3 months after the release of “The Everlasting EP”. So in less than a year's time, we had released 3 totally different records! So it was time for a break. But in that time from 2008-2011, we all grew up. Our musical influences changed, we had more experience being a band. If you think about it, a lot changes in a few years for an individual, especially young musicians. I think “Give Me Rest” is our best album to date, and I think overall it’s because we have had that 2 year window. Musically it’s more mature and original. Lyrically, it’s more honest and real. The differences between our previous albums and this one are huge!

And what were the strongest influences on it?

SO: All I have listened to for the past year is Jimmy Eat World and HUM. I think there are a few signs of that on this record, but I really don’t know.

What was the recording process for the new record like?

SO: Insane! I ended up having to write and record this entire album by myself, in the midst of becoming a father for the first time and working a full time job! There were so many signs around this album that made us want to throw the project away and call it quits. But ultimately, everything worked out. I started tracking the album here in Kansas City, with my friend Josh Barber at Covenant Studios. We spent roughly 2 months recording, and mixing. This is the album I have had time to actually mess around with a ton of different drums, amps, and guitars. Having the capability to cater to each individual song. It was awesome! I loved my time there, and it will go down as a recording experience I will forever remember.

I read somewhere you guys don’t tour anymore, what are the reasons behind this?

SO: We got sick of being broke, and aimlessly driving around the country hoping the show was “still on”. We love meeting people, travelling, and playing our music. We have no problem playing our best show in front of 2 kids in the middle of nowhere, Arkansas. But at some point, when you have families at home and other responsibilities, you have to know when to call it quits. And we did.

What do you miss the most about not touring? Any chance you might again someday?

SO: I miss the people. Being in a van with my best friends. Night drives and Mountain Dew. Setting up and tearing down my gear every night. Playing the music. I miss it all! And I know that all of us would do it again, if there were a way to make it work financially.

What are your thoughts on the state of the music industry these days?

SO: I keep most of my thoughts to myself on this subject. But it’s obvious things are getting bad. The number of people that are actually going out buying albums is dropping rapidly. And because of that bands are getting less and less for what they do, on top of sky high gas prices (Bands that choose to buy trailers the size of mobile homes, I don’t feel sorry for you.). There are a thousand things today that contribute to the current status of the music industry. I’m curious to see where it all ends up.

And what is Hands stance on illegal downloading?

SO: I don’t know about the other guys in the band, but for me personally I have downloaded a few albums. But all of them are albums that are seriously out dated. My most recent download was “Best Of The Talking Heads”. Which is awesome, by the way. For me, I don’t ever get excited about new bands or upcoming artists. For some reason, I am one of those dudes that’s not very open to accepting new music into my library. So when one of my favourite bands releases a new album, without a doubt I go to the store a buy it! I was standing at Best Buy, waiting for them to open the store the day Jimmy Eat World’s “Invented” album came out last September. $10 well spent!

Are there any new bands that have you excited?

SO: Like I mentioned before, there’s not too much making its way onto my iPod. I do know, that my friends in the band Gideon put out a new album called “Costs”. Anyone that’s into hardcore music, check it out! Also, the latest Deftones album “Diamond Eyes” is pretty cool stuff!

What does the future hold for Hands?

SO: I have no idea. We are trying to line up a few things this fall, but that’s about it. We are drifting further and further away from being a full time band, and with the release of “Give Me Rest” being such an unexpected success, who knows what it will bring. Another album? A couple more tours? A final tour? We are just going with the flow, and Facedown Records have been kind enough to leave the door open for us.

Thanks Shane!!

Hands last.fm

Hands facebook

Explosions In The Sky announce UK tour

Back in the UK later this month to headline the Green Man festival on the Friday night, Explosions In The Sky have just announced news of a full UK tour in late January 2012. Between these two dates the band will be coming in for one night only in November to play a show in Bristol. Upcoming UK dates below…

Friday 19 August – Brecon Beacons – Green Man Festival (Sold Out)

20 November – Bristol, Academy

22 January – Belfast, Mandela Hall

23 January – Glasgow, Academy

24 January – Leeds, Academy

25 January – Gateshead, The Sage

27 January – London, Brixton Academy

Check out the stunning animated video to Last Known Surroundings here

The Files and Fires - For People Talk Lightly...

Deriving their name from a passage in Albert Camus classic existentialist novel The Plague, Connecticut based avant gardists The Files and Fires return with their sophomore release, the inquisitively titled For People Talk Lightly.

Formed in 2006 by Tyler J Smith and Ian Tait, the duo went through a diverse array of musicians before sticking with current drummer Mike Howard and guitarist Peter Recine. Their self engineered debut Like Ivy released in 2008, found the band in cautious post, trance rock by numbers mode nearly afraid to express their true musical intent or aspirations. With For People Talk Lightly on the other hand, a blossoming maturity has seeped through and fashioned a record where before you can comprehend its surroundings you are enthralled in its charisma.

The albums intro Berliner and following track The Iron Pillars are deployed almost like tiny currents pulling and drawing you slowly toward the rest of the record, where before long you are drowning in the sonic depths of the sumptuousness and beauty that is Let Us Unfold Our Veils in the Wind. Following a short re-emergence for air with the albums weakest track A Miracle Saved Us, it is back to the idyllic depths with the appropriately titled The Sea was Left Behind, washing over you with some of the most enchanting and heart warming strings I have heard in some time. For People Talk Lightly is then brought to a close superbly with the impressive grandeur and adroitly precise arrangement of And The Day Goes By, But Time Stands Still.

The Files and Fires, have produced a stunning follow up to their at times lacklustre debut, which demonstrates a band with the ability to develop and be courageous and focused with their choices, a trait often unseen in many young bands these days. And having the pleasure of coming across For People Talk Lightly by complete coincidence makes this very special album that little bit more special.

Coma Recovery - Goddverb

New Mexicos purveyors of dark, industrial post rock Coma Recovery, return with their latest offering the deeply intense Goddverb. Conjuring visions of a scorched, cracked earth scattered intermittently by deathly, bare, skeletal trees encircling broken, desolate, grey cities engulfed by vicious, tumultuous, biting winds choking the air with grit and dust, Goddverb can be seen as a perfect soundtrack to this post apocalyptic landscape teetering on the edge of the abyss. Depressing stuff?? Not in the least.

Formed in early 2001 under the name Persona Projector, the band has undergone several line-up changes before settling on its current incarnation as Coma Recovery. After two self released EPs the band recorded their debut long player Drown That Holy End In Wine, an early indicator of the bands proclivity for the darkly atmospheric blend of post rock and hardcore that has become the vertebrae for the extraordinary Goddverb.

According to the band the inspiration behind Goddverb is to “remind us that in the midst of an industry collapsing from its own failure to bring us simple substance, music can still be bold and outspoken, still induce passion and vigour, still inspire and confound in the same breath, still hold onto one hundred per cent of its integrity,” and this power, passion and integrity resonates throughout the five tracks that make up the record. From the bruising, grittiness of Red Lighting Child/Great Emptiness right through the cacophony of melodic distortion and unremitting guitars that is title track Goddverb and on to the albums soaring and dare I say hopeful closer Illuminator, Coma Recovery stand fast behind this unwavering ideology and it pays off remarkably.

This is a record that quite astonishingly manages to evoke powerful, dark apocalyptic images while at the same time puncturing them with beams of transcendent, graceful, intoxicating light. My only concern is where Coma Recovery can go from here.

NEWPATH Festival

Our friends in MinionTV have asked us to give a little heads up about the forthcoming three day NEWPATH Festival that takes place in Liverpool the 27^th, 28^th and 29^th of August.

According to Stephen from the band “NEWPATH is a collective of like-minded people who aim to highlight genres of music that seem to be over-looked in the mainstream. As musicians ourselves, we put on DIY events to showcase and support music that we are very passionate about.Next up we have a three day NEWPATH festival over the Matthew Street Fringe Bank Holiday Weekend. MinionTV have picked all bands involved and are playing each day. This festival is FREE ENTRY, so get involved and support some great bands.”

The line-up for the three days includes This Is My Normal State (Bristol), Kanina (Japan), Muto Leo (Liverpool), Alright The Captain (Nottingham) and of course MinionTV along with many more.

For full details check it out on Facebook and listen to the free sampler here