ChaosResolved
01-05-2006, 01:03 AM
50-41 (http://www.decoymusic.com/vb/showthread.php?t=6776) ~ 40-31 (http://www.decoymusic.com/vb/showthread.php?t=6775) ~ 30-21 ~ 20-11 (http://www.decoymusic.com/vb/showthread.php?t=6773) ~ 10-1 (http://www.decoymusic.com/vb/showthread.php?t=6772)
#30
From Monument to Masses
Schools of Thought Contend
United States
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/top50/fmtm.jpg
Website:From Monument to Masses (http://www.monument-masses.com)
Music:Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/frommonumenttomasses)
From Monument to Masses 2003 debut album came and went without much recognition at all. It was a little rough around the edges, unfocused at points, and a difficult digestion for some, but the political instrumental band with full audio samples hadn't really been attacked like this before. A year later, Canada's Coming Home From Traffic Patterns tried a similar method with eve less rewarding results. Instead of following up with another album, From Monument to Masses re-groups and attacks with a remix album, featuring remixes by some of the underground's top acts--65 Days of Static, Thunderbirds are Now!, Loquat, and more, each adds it's own spin on the FMTM sound. These albums can often turn disastrous, but Schools of Thought Contend bring out the genius in From Monument to Masses while removing the rougher exterior. Additionally, the two new tracks from the band are its best work to date and wet the appetite fro the sophomore album.
#29
Amina
AminaminA
Canada
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/top50/amina.jpg
Website:Amina (http://www.aminamusik.com)
Music:Amina (http://www.aminamusik.com)
This was another easy pick for 2005. The string quartet that is famously known for supporting Sigur Ros bites the nail an puts out its debut EP. As we are accustomed from this band, the work is very professional and top notch. Those with an affinity for the string section will drool for this work. It was a great comfort to me to see them branching away from the style seen in Sigur Ros's work and really carving a name from themselves in AminaminA While only a short four songs long, the EP leaves the listener craving more, and hopefully we get that soon.
#28
El Ten Eleven
El Ten Eleven
United States
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/top50/elteneleven.jpg
Website:El Ten Eleven (http://www.elteneleven.com)
Music:Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/elteneleven)
Californian instrumentalists exchange blows in its self-titled debut album. For some reason--maybe PR--El Ten Eleven was picked up by the indie rock scene this year and saw a marginal amount of success, and even though it's a very solid offering, it doesn't challenge the skill or honesty of some of its lesser known US contemporaries. Tracks like "My Only Swerving" and "Fanshawe" are neat ensembles, but by and large the album is too repetitive and stagnant for its own good. El Ten Eleven does have all of the pieces together for a stellar release, but this debut album seems to not be challenging to them as musicians. This is a band to keep an eye on, when it gets riskier with its music it will truly be a fun act to watch.
#27
Crombie
Forest Walk
England
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/top50/crombie.jpg
Website:This Generation Tapes (http://www.thisgenerationtapes.com/)
Music:This Generation Tapes (http://www.thisgenerationtapes.com/)
This Generation Tapes brings Crombie's solo debut effort, Forest Walk. As you'd might expect from a solo project, there is not much organic material found here, aside from the samples of nature sounds, so the title is a bit misleading in that regard. This is an electronic piece of art, akin to Four Tet or Boards of Canada, and the ride throughout the album is a soothing, mellow experience. This was my favorite computer piece of the year; it has a nice even flow that many in the field overlook in favor of "glitching." Crombie, however, pushes all the right buttons.
#26
Red Sparowes
At the Soundless Dawn
United States
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/top50/redsparowes.jpg
Website:Red Sparrows (http://www.redsparowes.com)
Music:Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/redsparowes)
This was an easy one. Take members of metal's biggest bands, place them into the instrumental arena, and you have an instant success. Members of Isis and Neurosis team up for some dark-natured post-rock that buries hints of country style similar to Japancakes or Tulsa Drone. Red Sparowes hits heavy, hits hard, and hits often, like we would expect from a band with such a history. The album is solid from start to finish, although the band still finds itself in the middle of this illustrious list. To make the jump to the top, it'll have to abandon the techniques brought over from its other bands and have a try at tackling the instrumental scene from the inside out. As it currently stands, it's merely a tourist in foreign territory.
#25
The Timeout Drawer
Nowonmai
United States
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/top50/thetimeoutdrawer.jpg
Website:The Timeout Drawer (http://www.timeoutdrawer.com)
Music:Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/timeoutdrawer)
Throughout its years together as a band, I've never felt like The Timeout Drawer has really gotten down what it sought to accomplish as a musical force. Nowonmai is a huge step in the right direction. Flaring guitars and skittering drums soar over experimental compositional pieces, triggering a close comparison to the likes of Saxon Shore Electronic samples tear across the sonic landscape, reinforcing pedal effects and heightening the efflorescent rock nature of the album. Guest appearances are made across the board--strings and horn puncture the icy surface with unforgiving artistic flair. Songs like "Bursting with Tears, I Commit to Destroying You" and "Blue Eyed and Filled with Horror" are remarkable tracks from this emerging artist. It's a great joy to witness a band finding its niche after so many years of searching.
#24
Bell Orchestre
Recording a Tape the Color of the Light
Canada
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/top50/bellorchestre.jpg
Website:Bell Orchestre (http://www.bellorchestre.com)
Music:Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/bellorchestre)
Despite Canada's recent decline in the post-rock world, members of the Arcade Fire and Wooden Stars combine forces to keep it on track. Recording a Tape the Color of the Light is an ambitious project that sees the combined efforts of a cornucopia of musicians and instruments. There may not e enough bands utilizing the concept of a horn presence within its compositions, but Bell Orchestre is not one of them. Horns and strings clash and cascade over gentle, rumbling drums in playful songs that stir relentlessly until the end. Although Bell Orchestre doesn't' achieve a Godspeed You! Black Emperor work of artistic genius, it's safe to say that Recording a Tape the Color of the Light is an inspirational piece of art.
#23
Daturah
Daturah
Germany
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/top50/daturah.jpg
Website:Daturah (http://www.daturah.de)
Music:Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/daturah)
After a disastrous demonstration, Germany's Daturah deliver the goods with its self-titled debut album. Daturah warps its natural sound through delay and reverb effects to concoct a spacey/ambient sound that juxtaposes a post-rock foundation with metallic drone techniques borrowed from its European counterparts. A monstrous wall of sound is created and steadily pushed through the auditory system until the surmounting pressure levels the sonic landscape, driving Daturah's sound home with inexplicable smoothness. Daturah is rough around the edges, but overall it is a soulful experience.
#22
The Evpatoria Report
Glovaka
Switzerland
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/top50/theevpatoriareport.jpg
Website:The Evpatoria Report (http://www.the-evpatoria-report.net/)
Music:Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/theevpatoriareport)
Switzerland's The Evpatoria Report is onto something big. If Glovaka is any slight indication, this band is onto the heels of a devastating album. Pushing the quiet/loud archetype to new limits, Glovaka reaches points of complete serenity only to transverse almost instantaneously to crushing breakdowns. The approach is jarring a bit disorienting in some instances, but on a whole it is a powerful testament to this band's talent. Watch out for The Evpatoria Report, for it has set its eyes on the prize and will stop at nothing to reach it.
#21
Bossk
EP .1
England
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/top50/bossk.jpg
Website:Bossk (http://www.bossk.co.uk)
Music:Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/bossk)
England's Bossk makes a strong entrance into the instrumental world with EP .1. This thirty minute EP features two songs of juggernautic proportion. Spacey Segues and ambiance build up to a catastrophic finale where rugged metallic riffs destroy the beautiful scenery as they light the countryside on fire with chaotic, blistering metallic instrumental space rock. Just when the fury hits the climax, palpitating hellish vocals send the EP one notch higher into the intensity. When the half hour disc has run its course, Bossk is not a name that you'll easily forget.
~Jordan Volz
#30
From Monument to Masses
Schools of Thought Contend
United States
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/top50/fmtm.jpg
Website:From Monument to Masses (http://www.monument-masses.com)
Music:Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/frommonumenttomasses)
From Monument to Masses 2003 debut album came and went without much recognition at all. It was a little rough around the edges, unfocused at points, and a difficult digestion for some, but the political instrumental band with full audio samples hadn't really been attacked like this before. A year later, Canada's Coming Home From Traffic Patterns tried a similar method with eve less rewarding results. Instead of following up with another album, From Monument to Masses re-groups and attacks with a remix album, featuring remixes by some of the underground's top acts--65 Days of Static, Thunderbirds are Now!, Loquat, and more, each adds it's own spin on the FMTM sound. These albums can often turn disastrous, but Schools of Thought Contend bring out the genius in From Monument to Masses while removing the rougher exterior. Additionally, the two new tracks from the band are its best work to date and wet the appetite fro the sophomore album.
#29
Amina
AminaminA
Canada
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/top50/amina.jpg
Website:Amina (http://www.aminamusik.com)
Music:Amina (http://www.aminamusik.com)
This was another easy pick for 2005. The string quartet that is famously known for supporting Sigur Ros bites the nail an puts out its debut EP. As we are accustomed from this band, the work is very professional and top notch. Those with an affinity for the string section will drool for this work. It was a great comfort to me to see them branching away from the style seen in Sigur Ros's work and really carving a name from themselves in AminaminA While only a short four songs long, the EP leaves the listener craving more, and hopefully we get that soon.
#28
El Ten Eleven
El Ten Eleven
United States
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/top50/elteneleven.jpg
Website:El Ten Eleven (http://www.elteneleven.com)
Music:Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/elteneleven)
Californian instrumentalists exchange blows in its self-titled debut album. For some reason--maybe PR--El Ten Eleven was picked up by the indie rock scene this year and saw a marginal amount of success, and even though it's a very solid offering, it doesn't challenge the skill or honesty of some of its lesser known US contemporaries. Tracks like "My Only Swerving" and "Fanshawe" are neat ensembles, but by and large the album is too repetitive and stagnant for its own good. El Ten Eleven does have all of the pieces together for a stellar release, but this debut album seems to not be challenging to them as musicians. This is a band to keep an eye on, when it gets riskier with its music it will truly be a fun act to watch.
#27
Crombie
Forest Walk
England
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/top50/crombie.jpg
Website:This Generation Tapes (http://www.thisgenerationtapes.com/)
Music:This Generation Tapes (http://www.thisgenerationtapes.com/)
This Generation Tapes brings Crombie's solo debut effort, Forest Walk. As you'd might expect from a solo project, there is not much organic material found here, aside from the samples of nature sounds, so the title is a bit misleading in that regard. This is an electronic piece of art, akin to Four Tet or Boards of Canada, and the ride throughout the album is a soothing, mellow experience. This was my favorite computer piece of the year; it has a nice even flow that many in the field overlook in favor of "glitching." Crombie, however, pushes all the right buttons.
#26
Red Sparowes
At the Soundless Dawn
United States
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/top50/redsparowes.jpg
Website:Red Sparrows (http://www.redsparowes.com)
Music:Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/redsparowes)
This was an easy one. Take members of metal's biggest bands, place them into the instrumental arena, and you have an instant success. Members of Isis and Neurosis team up for some dark-natured post-rock that buries hints of country style similar to Japancakes or Tulsa Drone. Red Sparowes hits heavy, hits hard, and hits often, like we would expect from a band with such a history. The album is solid from start to finish, although the band still finds itself in the middle of this illustrious list. To make the jump to the top, it'll have to abandon the techniques brought over from its other bands and have a try at tackling the instrumental scene from the inside out. As it currently stands, it's merely a tourist in foreign territory.
#25
The Timeout Drawer
Nowonmai
United States
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/top50/thetimeoutdrawer.jpg
Website:The Timeout Drawer (http://www.timeoutdrawer.com)
Music:Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/timeoutdrawer)
Throughout its years together as a band, I've never felt like The Timeout Drawer has really gotten down what it sought to accomplish as a musical force. Nowonmai is a huge step in the right direction. Flaring guitars and skittering drums soar over experimental compositional pieces, triggering a close comparison to the likes of Saxon Shore Electronic samples tear across the sonic landscape, reinforcing pedal effects and heightening the efflorescent rock nature of the album. Guest appearances are made across the board--strings and horn puncture the icy surface with unforgiving artistic flair. Songs like "Bursting with Tears, I Commit to Destroying You" and "Blue Eyed and Filled with Horror" are remarkable tracks from this emerging artist. It's a great joy to witness a band finding its niche after so many years of searching.
#24
Bell Orchestre
Recording a Tape the Color of the Light
Canada
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/top50/bellorchestre.jpg
Website:Bell Orchestre (http://www.bellorchestre.com)
Music:Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/bellorchestre)
Despite Canada's recent decline in the post-rock world, members of the Arcade Fire and Wooden Stars combine forces to keep it on track. Recording a Tape the Color of the Light is an ambitious project that sees the combined efforts of a cornucopia of musicians and instruments. There may not e enough bands utilizing the concept of a horn presence within its compositions, but Bell Orchestre is not one of them. Horns and strings clash and cascade over gentle, rumbling drums in playful songs that stir relentlessly until the end. Although Bell Orchestre doesn't' achieve a Godspeed You! Black Emperor work of artistic genius, it's safe to say that Recording a Tape the Color of the Light is an inspirational piece of art.
#23
Daturah
Daturah
Germany
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/top50/daturah.jpg
Website:Daturah (http://www.daturah.de)
Music:Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/daturah)
After a disastrous demonstration, Germany's Daturah deliver the goods with its self-titled debut album. Daturah warps its natural sound through delay and reverb effects to concoct a spacey/ambient sound that juxtaposes a post-rock foundation with metallic drone techniques borrowed from its European counterparts. A monstrous wall of sound is created and steadily pushed through the auditory system until the surmounting pressure levels the sonic landscape, driving Daturah's sound home with inexplicable smoothness. Daturah is rough around the edges, but overall it is a soulful experience.
#22
The Evpatoria Report
Glovaka
Switzerland
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/top50/theevpatoriareport.jpg
Website:The Evpatoria Report (http://www.the-evpatoria-report.net/)
Music:Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/theevpatoriareport)
Switzerland's The Evpatoria Report is onto something big. If Glovaka is any slight indication, this band is onto the heels of a devastating album. Pushing the quiet/loud archetype to new limits, Glovaka reaches points of complete serenity only to transverse almost instantaneously to crushing breakdowns. The approach is jarring a bit disorienting in some instances, but on a whole it is a powerful testament to this band's talent. Watch out for The Evpatoria Report, for it has set its eyes on the prize and will stop at nothing to reach it.
#21
Bossk
EP .1
England
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/top50/bossk.jpg
Website:Bossk (http://www.bossk.co.uk)
Music:Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/bossk)
England's Bossk makes a strong entrance into the instrumental world with EP .1. This thirty minute EP features two songs of juggernautic proportion. Spacey Segues and ambiance build up to a catastrophic finale where rugged metallic riffs destroy the beautiful scenery as they light the countryside on fire with chaotic, blistering metallic instrumental space rock. Just when the fury hits the climax, palpitating hellish vocals send the EP one notch higher into the intensity. When the half hour disc has run its course, Bossk is not a name that you'll easily forget.
~Jordan Volz