Mono-For my Parents

Consider the line between atmospheric post rock and neoclassical contemporary music blurred.  Japan's Mono have delivered an epic worth the price. 

This is high praise for a band that until a few months ago I had never even heard of.  I happened across a preview track on a blog I regularly visit and was impressed with what I heard, even from such a small sample.  Mono's newest album, For my Parents, was released a week ago, and it has taken me that long to listen to it and offer my thoughts.

Mono successfully blends ambient and atmospheric soundscapes with orchestral majesty in thier new album.  I defy anyone to find a post rock outfit quite like Mono.  Yes, at times Joy Wants Eternity, another band I have raved about, comes close.  Mono is most often compared to post rock stalwarts Mogwai and Explosions in the Sky, but in my opinion they offer generous helpings of delicious melody in forms that the aforementioned bands don't quite replicate.

Listening to this album, I couldn't help thinking that this music was from a film, because it definitely sounds like it could have.  Amid the sweeps of symphony and the reflective, reverb-laden, ambiance the band occaionally introduces harmonic guitar plucking and sparse drum patterns. 

This album ought to be a staple in any worthy post rock CD collection.  I was slightly disappointed to find out that this album only offers up six tracks, but those six tracks amount to nearly a full hour of music.  All you have to do is press play, sit back, relax, and enjoy.  I'll give For my Parents an incredible 4.9/5 stars.  Give it a listen below.  Thanks for reading and enjoy!

Joy Wants Eternity-The Fog is Rising

Post-Rock is a genre of music I have started to get into the last few months.  That isn't to say I hadn't heard post-rock before, just that I didn't know what I was listening to was indeed post-rock.  As far as genre tag labels can take you, Seattle's Joy Wants Eternity is an ambient post-rock band.  I didn't know this when I first discovered them, as to me, thier tunes sounded shoegaze-ey (yeah, I admit that isn't a word).

The Fog is Rising is a long-awaited six-track album that succeeds in bending minds.  The first thing you notice when you start with Our Backs into the Wind is drums that provide neither rhythm nor beat.  This is standard for most post-rock, so I will get to the most noticeable aspect of Joy Wants Eternity's sound.  Many of thier melodies are deeply rooted in atmospheric ambiance played mostly through effects-heavy, looping guitars interspersed with some keyboards to carry the swells of the music.

After the opening song, we are treated with the title track, wich I consider to be a standout on the album.  Echoing guitar tones underline off-kilter drum sections brilliantly, creating a sonic tapestry that evokes more emotion than most emo-core bands do. 

As with most post-rock, Joy Wants Eternity has  no vocals.  They are in some ways comparable to Explosions in the Sky or Mogwai, but incorporate more ambient soundscapes.  Even if you are not a big  post-rock fan, there is plenty to be enjoyed here.  This is another highly recommended album, earning a solid 4.7 out of 5 stars.  Take a listen to Our Backs into the Wind below.