Roncag
08-01-2006, 12:13 PM
The past two weeks have given us the chance to bring you 10 bands worth checking out. Listen to what we feel are some of the best bands you may have never heard of.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/cameran.jpg Cameran
Website (http://www.cameran.net) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/thebandcameran)
Cameran subtly, silence and control detonations that are carefully arranged, communicating in such a way that a dynamic tension is generated, working similarly to a dialectic screw that moves straight up in time and space releasing the synthesis between the two opposing poles – the quadrature of the circle. With this in mind, the musical structure is favourably comparable to classical music in terms of how it is both written and arranged. Cameran have created their dynamics with a sense of playfulness by switching from soft, rippling sounds and beats to a limitless rage with an immeasurable capacity of energy. All four band members have been immersed in the music scene for some time, playing in different groups prior to being drawn together by their intense love of music. Fuelled by the curiosity of seeing where their ambitions might take them, Cameran performed a number of live shows around Europe playing alongside great bands such as the Chili Peppers, Supergrass, The International Noise Conspiracy, and Converge. And in 2004 they relocated to the UK where they played a series of regional gigs before being invited to be main support to Coheed and Cambria on their Spring 2004 UK tour. Their first full-length album, A Caesarean, was just released via Innocent Words records. It's just about time Refused had a successor.
RIYL: Refused, At The Drive In, Minus, Vaux, Death From Above 1979, Rage Against The Machine, Jane's Addiction
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/pilotspeed1.jpg Pilot Speed
Website (http://www.pilotspeed.net) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/pilotspeed)
Pilot Speed (formerly Pilate) is a four piece rock band from Canada, which seem to be overflowing these days with great new music. However, lead singer-songwriter Todd Clark didn't spend his creative years as a canuck, but rather developed his talents on the other side of the globe in New Zealand. He admits he was influenced early on by locals like Crowded House and the Finn Brothers as well as UK imports U2 and Radiohead. He was 16 when he moved to Ontario and discovered he could sing....really sing. So after a massive search in 2000, he found like minded musicians to fill out Pilate. Two albums and an EP later, as well as the name change, the band have hit some amazing pinnacles, and are ready for world-wide attention. After already having a top 20 album and top 10 single in Canada, they set their eyes on the US and signed to Wind-Up Records. Their debut album for the label, Into the West, will see a release in October. Trust us when we say it's not to be missed.
RIYL: Muse, Dredg, Mute Math, Radiohead, Sunny Day Real Estate, U2, Remy Zero
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/hundredyearstorm.jpg Hundred Year Storm
Website (http://www.hundredyearstorm.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/hundredyearstorm)
Hundred Year Storm are from the blazing hot region of Austin, Texas. The heat combined with the wide open spaces of Texas must compel these boys to write some of the most spacious, almost post rock, melodic rock songs. They are one of the few bands in the world who have the ability to create cresendo worthy orchestrations and craft them into memorable, singable songs. Their debut album for Floodgate Records, Hello From the Children of Planet Earth, is no exception as they continue on the promise they set upon 3 years ago. This is experimental rock at it's finest.
RIYL: Codeseven, Sunny Day Real Estate, Jimmy Eat World, ...Trail Of Dead, Sigur Ros, Starflyer 59, Death Cab For Cutie
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/adem.jpg Adem
Website (http://www.adem.tv) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/ademilhan)
Love and Other Planets, the second album from Adem, sees the London singer-songwriter taking the rule-book of contemporary folk he helped to write and systematically pulling it apart page by page. Upping the ante in terms of sonics and songwriting ambition, Adem has written a far-reaching and beautiful record, bound together by a truly universal concept. Love and Other Planets sees Adem taking his music further whilst keeping the intimacy of Homesongs. He has broadened his perspectives to make a bold record unafraid of taking leaps into the dark of experimentation yet still keeping his trademark strong melodies and heartfelt delivery. With Love and Other Planets, Adem has made a giant leap for man and a small step for mankind, to paraphrase someone, somewhere, sometime.
RIYL: Four Tet, Sufjan Stevens, Flaming Lips, Thom Yorke, M. Ward, Mogwai, Coldplay, Bjork, Devendra Banhart
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/whitewhale.jpg White Whale
Website (http://www.whitewhale.us) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/whitewhalemusic)
A group of guys from Lawrence, Kansas decided to embark upon an epic journey and would label themselves White Whale. A name of such biblical and mythical proportions would have to be met with an equally powerful sound. Fortunately the men involved have an impressive pedigree. Members have come from Butterglory, The Get Up Kids, Thee Higher Burning Fire, and Matt Suggs. Now armed with a powerful name and musical chops, they would have to prove they could still cut it in the real world. Mission acomplished. Their debut album through Merge Records, WWI, is a massive, brooding indie rock album that succeeds on every level. They have been compared to The Decemberists and Arcade Fire, but those alone won't do them justice. We may not be in need of another "IT" band, but if it turned out to be White Whale, I wouldn't complain.
RIYL: The Decemberists, Arcade Fire, Murder By Death, Okkervil River, Black Heart Procession, Cursive
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/babyboyh.jpg Baby Boy H
Website (http://www.babyboyh) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/babyboyh)
Baby Boy H came out of nowhere in late 2003 and started making some serious noise in the Boston music scene. Soon after they joined the Radar Records crew, the label responsible for amazing bands like Junius and Constants. In 2004 they released their debut album, The Later, which was a progressive, female fronted rock album--not too great, but far from bad. However, in the 2 years since The Later's release, the band have matured and progressed by leaps and bounds, tackling much more ambitious and expansive sounds and textures. Now it's almost a different sound, totally embracing the experimental and pushing the envelope for how amazing they can be. Their new EP, The Imaginary Dream, has just been released by the band and my god is it a sound to behold.
RIYL: Placebo, PJ Harvey, Faith No More, Jane's Addiction, Kidneythieves, Rush, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Coheed and Cambria, Cyclefly
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/nihil.jpg Nihil
Website (http://www.nihilband.com) :: Listen ( http://www.myspace.com/nihilzone)
The time may be now for French band Nihil. They have been milling around their locale for the better part of 7 years making great album after great album, but failing to extend themselves much further than their country's borders. Their latest transformation may give us all no choice but to lend an ear to their marvelous sound. The new album, Figures and Creatures, is a step into darker and more electronic terrain, but is decidely still the old Nihil their longtime fans will recognize. While they are primarily a melodic rock band, they still manage to display a heavy side worthy of the international stadiums.
RIYL: Depeche Mode, Elbow, Clann Zu, Coldplay, Jeff Buckley, Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/unexpect.jpg Unexpect
Website (http://www.unexpect.com/) :: Listen ( http://www.myspace.com/unexpect)
While there are no lions, circus tops or cotton candy vendors packaged with Unexpect’s CDs and/or taking part in their eclectic live shows there might as well be. The septet annihilates any perception we would have of them on CD and in a live environment put on one of the most spectacular and creative shows you’ll see, a show fuelled by a mish-mash of creative styles – black, death, progressive and classical metal to name a few – and an awe-inspiring adrenaline rush. And it’s that rush of ingenuity and uniqueness that has allowed the Montreal act to set themselves apart from the rest of the musical acts out there, both home and abroad. Their influences are limitless and all boundaries of where they can go have been abolished, and that alone allows for the rise of creativity to be free and not held back - as life should be. Their latest opus, In A Flesh Aquarium, will be unleashed upon us this month on The End Records.
RIYL: The Gathering, John Zorn, System of a Down, Mr. Bungle, Estradasphere, Antimatter, Made Out Of babies, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/tunng.jpg Tunng
Website (http://www.tunng.co.uk) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/thisistunng)
Tunng consists of two guitarists, a guy doing electronics and a bloke who plays the seashells with his toes. Some people say their brand of 'new folk' could be the next big thing, while others seem to look down on the folk-tronica label. Give it a chance however, and you may be overwhelmed. Tunng is a experimental duo out of the United Kingdom. The men behind this experiement Mike Lindsay, Sam Genders have begun to create a more accessible form of new folk blended with noise. The band have previously released numerous 7"'s with Static Caravan but haven just recently signed to Ace Fu records, home to great bands like Man Man and An Albatross. On their latest album, Mother's, Daughter and Other Songs, you can clearly see how far the duo take the depths of folky, electronic layers.
RIYL: The Beta Band, Devotchka, Mum, The Books, Animal Collective, Efterklang, Sufjan Stevens, Manitoba
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/ampop2.jpg AMPop
Website (http://www.ampop.co.uk) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/ampopband)
AMPop is a 3 piece melodic rock outfir from Iceland, who despite releasing 3 amazing albums, have failed to gain mass attention, even in their homeland. The release of their latest album, My Delusions, should go a long way in helping to change that. It's eleven gorgeous, spacious, and sprawling tracks of musical bliss. Drawing comparions to their countrymates Sigur Ros and Dikta as well as Radiohead and The arcade Fire, it's shocking they haven't found a huge audience. They display an uncanny ability to craft beautiful songs and merge them with heavenly atmospheres and melodies. AmPop's potential has no boundaries.
RIYL: Dikta, Aireline, Gazpacho, Sigur Ros, Radiohead, Arcade Fire, dEUS
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/cameran.jpg Cameran
Website (http://www.cameran.net) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/thebandcameran)
Cameran subtly, silence and control detonations that are carefully arranged, communicating in such a way that a dynamic tension is generated, working similarly to a dialectic screw that moves straight up in time and space releasing the synthesis between the two opposing poles – the quadrature of the circle. With this in mind, the musical structure is favourably comparable to classical music in terms of how it is both written and arranged. Cameran have created their dynamics with a sense of playfulness by switching from soft, rippling sounds and beats to a limitless rage with an immeasurable capacity of energy. All four band members have been immersed in the music scene for some time, playing in different groups prior to being drawn together by their intense love of music. Fuelled by the curiosity of seeing where their ambitions might take them, Cameran performed a number of live shows around Europe playing alongside great bands such as the Chili Peppers, Supergrass, The International Noise Conspiracy, and Converge. And in 2004 they relocated to the UK where they played a series of regional gigs before being invited to be main support to Coheed and Cambria on their Spring 2004 UK tour. Their first full-length album, A Caesarean, was just released via Innocent Words records. It's just about time Refused had a successor.
RIYL: Refused, At The Drive In, Minus, Vaux, Death From Above 1979, Rage Against The Machine, Jane's Addiction
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/pilotspeed1.jpg Pilot Speed
Website (http://www.pilotspeed.net) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/pilotspeed)
Pilot Speed (formerly Pilate) is a four piece rock band from Canada, which seem to be overflowing these days with great new music. However, lead singer-songwriter Todd Clark didn't spend his creative years as a canuck, but rather developed his talents on the other side of the globe in New Zealand. He admits he was influenced early on by locals like Crowded House and the Finn Brothers as well as UK imports U2 and Radiohead. He was 16 when he moved to Ontario and discovered he could sing....really sing. So after a massive search in 2000, he found like minded musicians to fill out Pilate. Two albums and an EP later, as well as the name change, the band have hit some amazing pinnacles, and are ready for world-wide attention. After already having a top 20 album and top 10 single in Canada, they set their eyes on the US and signed to Wind-Up Records. Their debut album for the label, Into the West, will see a release in October. Trust us when we say it's not to be missed.
RIYL: Muse, Dredg, Mute Math, Radiohead, Sunny Day Real Estate, U2, Remy Zero
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/hundredyearstorm.jpg Hundred Year Storm
Website (http://www.hundredyearstorm.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/hundredyearstorm)
Hundred Year Storm are from the blazing hot region of Austin, Texas. The heat combined with the wide open spaces of Texas must compel these boys to write some of the most spacious, almost post rock, melodic rock songs. They are one of the few bands in the world who have the ability to create cresendo worthy orchestrations and craft them into memorable, singable songs. Their debut album for Floodgate Records, Hello From the Children of Planet Earth, is no exception as they continue on the promise they set upon 3 years ago. This is experimental rock at it's finest.
RIYL: Codeseven, Sunny Day Real Estate, Jimmy Eat World, ...Trail Of Dead, Sigur Ros, Starflyer 59, Death Cab For Cutie
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/adem.jpg Adem
Website (http://www.adem.tv) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/ademilhan)
Love and Other Planets, the second album from Adem, sees the London singer-songwriter taking the rule-book of contemporary folk he helped to write and systematically pulling it apart page by page. Upping the ante in terms of sonics and songwriting ambition, Adem has written a far-reaching and beautiful record, bound together by a truly universal concept. Love and Other Planets sees Adem taking his music further whilst keeping the intimacy of Homesongs. He has broadened his perspectives to make a bold record unafraid of taking leaps into the dark of experimentation yet still keeping his trademark strong melodies and heartfelt delivery. With Love and Other Planets, Adem has made a giant leap for man and a small step for mankind, to paraphrase someone, somewhere, sometime.
RIYL: Four Tet, Sufjan Stevens, Flaming Lips, Thom Yorke, M. Ward, Mogwai, Coldplay, Bjork, Devendra Banhart
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/whitewhale.jpg White Whale
Website (http://www.whitewhale.us) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/whitewhalemusic)
A group of guys from Lawrence, Kansas decided to embark upon an epic journey and would label themselves White Whale. A name of such biblical and mythical proportions would have to be met with an equally powerful sound. Fortunately the men involved have an impressive pedigree. Members have come from Butterglory, The Get Up Kids, Thee Higher Burning Fire, and Matt Suggs. Now armed with a powerful name and musical chops, they would have to prove they could still cut it in the real world. Mission acomplished. Their debut album through Merge Records, WWI, is a massive, brooding indie rock album that succeeds on every level. They have been compared to The Decemberists and Arcade Fire, but those alone won't do them justice. We may not be in need of another "IT" band, but if it turned out to be White Whale, I wouldn't complain.
RIYL: The Decemberists, Arcade Fire, Murder By Death, Okkervil River, Black Heart Procession, Cursive
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/babyboyh.jpg Baby Boy H
Website (http://www.babyboyh) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/babyboyh)
Baby Boy H came out of nowhere in late 2003 and started making some serious noise in the Boston music scene. Soon after they joined the Radar Records crew, the label responsible for amazing bands like Junius and Constants. In 2004 they released their debut album, The Later, which was a progressive, female fronted rock album--not too great, but far from bad. However, in the 2 years since The Later's release, the band have matured and progressed by leaps and bounds, tackling much more ambitious and expansive sounds and textures. Now it's almost a different sound, totally embracing the experimental and pushing the envelope for how amazing they can be. Their new EP, The Imaginary Dream, has just been released by the band and my god is it a sound to behold.
RIYL: Placebo, PJ Harvey, Faith No More, Jane's Addiction, Kidneythieves, Rush, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Coheed and Cambria, Cyclefly
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/nihil.jpg Nihil
Website (http://www.nihilband.com) :: Listen ( http://www.myspace.com/nihilzone)
The time may be now for French band Nihil. They have been milling around their locale for the better part of 7 years making great album after great album, but failing to extend themselves much further than their country's borders. Their latest transformation may give us all no choice but to lend an ear to their marvelous sound. The new album, Figures and Creatures, is a step into darker and more electronic terrain, but is decidely still the old Nihil their longtime fans will recognize. While they are primarily a melodic rock band, they still manage to display a heavy side worthy of the international stadiums.
RIYL: Depeche Mode, Elbow, Clann Zu, Coldplay, Jeff Buckley, Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/unexpect.jpg Unexpect
Website (http://www.unexpect.com/) :: Listen ( http://www.myspace.com/unexpect)
While there are no lions, circus tops or cotton candy vendors packaged with Unexpect’s CDs and/or taking part in their eclectic live shows there might as well be. The septet annihilates any perception we would have of them on CD and in a live environment put on one of the most spectacular and creative shows you’ll see, a show fuelled by a mish-mash of creative styles – black, death, progressive and classical metal to name a few – and an awe-inspiring adrenaline rush. And it’s that rush of ingenuity and uniqueness that has allowed the Montreal act to set themselves apart from the rest of the musical acts out there, both home and abroad. Their influences are limitless and all boundaries of where they can go have been abolished, and that alone allows for the rise of creativity to be free and not held back - as life should be. Their latest opus, In A Flesh Aquarium, will be unleashed upon us this month on The End Records.
RIYL: The Gathering, John Zorn, System of a Down, Mr. Bungle, Estradasphere, Antimatter, Made Out Of babies, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/tunng.jpg Tunng
Website (http://www.tunng.co.uk) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/thisistunng)
Tunng consists of two guitarists, a guy doing electronics and a bloke who plays the seashells with his toes. Some people say their brand of 'new folk' could be the next big thing, while others seem to look down on the folk-tronica label. Give it a chance however, and you may be overwhelmed. Tunng is a experimental duo out of the United Kingdom. The men behind this experiement Mike Lindsay, Sam Genders have begun to create a more accessible form of new folk blended with noise. The band have previously released numerous 7"'s with Static Caravan but haven just recently signed to Ace Fu records, home to great bands like Man Man and An Albatross. On their latest album, Mother's, Daughter and Other Songs, you can clearly see how far the duo take the depths of folky, electronic layers.
RIYL: The Beta Band, Devotchka, Mum, The Books, Animal Collective, Efterklang, Sufjan Stevens, Manitoba
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/bandsyoushouldknow/ampop2.jpg AMPop
Website (http://www.ampop.co.uk) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/ampopband)
AMPop is a 3 piece melodic rock outfir from Iceland, who despite releasing 3 amazing albums, have failed to gain mass attention, even in their homeland. The release of their latest album, My Delusions, should go a long way in helping to change that. It's eleven gorgeous, spacious, and sprawling tracks of musical bliss. Drawing comparions to their countrymates Sigur Ros and Dikta as well as Radiohead and The arcade Fire, it's shocking they haven't found a huge audience. They display an uncanny ability to craft beautiful songs and merge them with heavenly atmospheres and melodies. AmPop's potential has no boundaries.
RIYL: Dikta, Aireline, Gazpacho, Sigur Ros, Radiohead, Arcade Fire, dEUS