Sigur Ros-Kveikur review

I didn't really take Sigur Ros seriously until sometime in 2012 after their previous album "Valtari" was released.  I'm not really sure why.  Perhaps the band's name didn't resonate with me.  But after I really took some time to listen to that record, I came to like the band's sound a lot more. 

Since "Valtari," Sigur Ros has been hard at work, quickly releasing another album.  This one didn't really have time to make it to the highly anticipated category because it was announced and released in a very short time span. 

If you have browsed a record store lately, you might have seen the new album, "Kveikur" gracing shelves.  The cover art is simple, yet attention grabbing. 

With this new album, Sigur Ros have adapted and enhanced their experimental approach to accessible post rock.  "Kveikur" sees the band incorporating more ominous textures, and darker, deeper sounds.  With enough distortion to keep true to the post-rock values the band is known for, accessible pop sensibilities and broken bits of alternative styled sounds peek through the haze of atmospheric grandeur.  This results in a sweeping, majestic sound that is quite impressive, even for seasoned fans of this Icelandic post-rock group.

There is plenty to enjoy on this disc.  The opener, Brenninstein immediately leaves its mark and sets a tone for the remainder of the release.  Most of the tracks continue with similar workmanship.  This album has enough distortion to keep hard core post-rock fans interested, yet enough pop styling to attract new listeners.  As good as "Valtari" proved to be, "Kveikur" is even better.  This is a fantastic release that should earn its way into the libraries of many listeners. 

Sigur Ros is known as a standard of post-rock and is referenced alongside many mentions of post-rock.  This is notable, because the collection of well-known post-rock bands is sparse.  Instead of simply adhering to post-rock standards, however, this band experiments and truly pushes the boundary limitations of the genre.  Listen to Brenninstein below.  As always, thanks for reading and enjoy!

Now That We're Older-Beneath the Bridge...review

For anyone new to our blog, let me start by saying that there are many great artists and bands putting out amazing music these days.  They need your support.  That is where we come in.  We look at many under-publicized artists and help them by blogging about it here if we like it.  Please continue to support these artists.

One said artist is an American instrumental rock band called Now that We're Older.  This band is from Cincinnati, Ohio and has just recently released their album, "Beneath the Bridge, Under a Frozen Sky"  Citing influences ranging from post-rock heavy hitters such as Mogwai, Sigur Ros, and This Will Destroy You, this band creates dazzling instrumental rock tunes.  These songs incorporate various instruments and feelings.

Where some post-rock bands create flashy, screeching guitar distortion that represents the majority of their music, Now That We're Older shies away from in-your-face explosions of post-rock cinematic noise in favor of a more earthen instrumental album that is less heavy on the distortion and includes numerous pure instrumentation. 

The effect this creates is somewhere between post-rock and experimental, producing an eclectic array of emotions entirely through the sounds and tempos of the music.  While some tracks include a generous helping of wailing guitar distortion, others offer a healthy dose of piano, drums, mainstream rock guitars, cellos, and gorgeous string arrangements.

To put it mildly, this album blew me away.  It is remarkably well-produced with impeccable mixing and minimal sampling.  In short, I can't say enough good things about this band.

I can't finish this review without sharing my experience about how I found this album.  I was poking around on bandcamp looking for some fresh new tunes for little to no cost, and I saw the album cover depicted above.  I thought, "that's a cool album cover."  Anyone who knows me or regularly follows our blog knows how that usually ends up for me. 

Another great thing about this band is that you can't go wrong by downloading it, because Now That We're Older is offering it for free through their bandcamp page.  As a matter of fact, they are not even asking for donations, as many bands do.  This is a completely free, no-strings-attached instant download that is worth at least $10.00.  Get this album.  You will love it.  For your listening pleasure, the entire album is streaming below, courtesy of Now That We're Older's bandcamp.  Key in on Song for Jewel and Northern Lights, as these are clear standouts.  Thanks for reading and enjoy!

Syberia-Drawing a Future review

Russia is a big country, the largest in the world in fact, in terms of land area.  There is a region called Siberia, also known as the tundra, where the landscape is barren and frozen most of the year.  This could be fitting since January of 2013 so far is shaping up to be one of the coldest ever in Boise, Idaho.

I have recently discovered a band called Syberia.  This band is from Barcelona, Spain.  They play an interesting style of music that little resembles stereotypical Spanish music.  The sound they employ is a monstrous instrumental rock which uses various time signatures with metallic riffing and huge post-rock styled guitar leads that swoop and swirl to create a massive aura of atmosphere. 

"Drawing a Future" is their latest effort, released in 2012.  This album is just the right length for an entirely instrumental piece, never overstaying its welcome or repeating aspects of the style too often.  Contrary to the band's name, the musical style is warm hard rock instrumentation with atypical drum patterns, juxtaposed with chilly screeches of guitar-led atmosphere that carries the album. 

For a new and little-known artist, the production quality is spectacular and helps to maintain the grandeur of the music as a whole.  Fans of a variety of musical genres can find something good to listen to in this music.  If you like post rock, this album delivers.  If you like instrumental or experimental rock, chances are you will dig this.  If you are a metalhead, you'll find plenty of head-bangable moments littered throughout this album.

This review has been brief, but sometimes the music just has to speak for itself, because in the end, no amount of raving on my part will come close to providing the enjoyment of listening pleasure that Syberia brings.  This is a diverse and explosive listen and one that demands attention.

"Drawing a Future" is available through bandcamp as a name-your-price download, so you can't go wrong in getting this.  Syberia's bandcamp page provides us with the full stream of the album.  Check it out below.  As always, thanks for reading and enjoy!