Album of the Week: Thelittlesorryselfyouare

Thelittlesorryselfyouare
Thelittlesorryselfyouare EP
Self-Released
Myspace

By some standards, Thelittlesorryselfyouare's five-track, forty minute debut EP is nothing out of the ordinary within the contemporary experimental scene. As a quintet from Belgium, Thelittlesorryselfyouare is comprised of two guitarists, a bassist, keyboardist, and a drummer. The music itself, while at no stretch boring or tired, utilizes fairly typical post-rock techniques: melodic, crescendo-heavy pieces are elegantly crafted through the use of fluttering tremolo and moments of heavy guitar distortion. Undoubtedly, Thelittlesorryselfyouare respect and indeed draw from their influences on a number of occasions, but unlike many other young artists, distinguish themselves through a palpable sense of passion and intensity. Thelittlesorryselfyouare present a somewhat raw cohesion of atmospheric, textural guitar work and windy song structures, commonly delving into moments of contrasting delicacy and wall of sound schematics. "Designedly Dissolved into Nothingless," the EP's standout track, creates an intriguing, melancholic atmosphere that merges into a distortion-rich crescendo format. On display here, and within the EP in general, is a unique feeling of unbridled emotion and creativity. The band seemingly play less for the creation of a monumental, ground-breaking work than they do for the concept of "art for art's sake": Thelittlesorryselfyouare craft music that is ultimately an expression of their collective sentiment, unrestrained by an overbearing sense of importance or weight. Instead, Thelittlesorryselfyouare concentrate on shifting environments through texture, eager to portray dramatic soundscapes and images. However, the band's relative youth and the overall raw nature of their music does hinder the EP in a few regards. The songs presented on the EP all follow a common pattern, and while at some points the lengthy compositions are effective, other moments tend to drag as a result of unnecessary interludes and overly-drawn out crescendos. Ultimately, the band would benefit from the inclusion of more compact compositions, such as opener "Do," alongside lengthier, decidedly epic pieces ("Pynar and His Backseat Problems"). That being said, Thelittlesorryselfyouare are without doubt a group to keep an eye on in the future. The band are certainly on the right path with their debut EP, which remains one of the highlights of the European post-rock scene this year.

Album of the Week: Tender Souvenirs

Tender Souvenirs
Scars & Souvenirs
Airwaves Music
Myspace

On their debut release, Tender Souvenirs (formerly Ever the Statesman) introduce the listener to their unique brand of swirling, trumpet-infused, multi-layered post-rock. In a year where the standard full-length fails to reach past 45 minutes in length, Scars & Souvenirs gracefully extends itself for nearly an hour; atypical of most contemporary post-rock bands, let alone groups new to the scene. In any case, the lengthy duration of the album acts as an outward indication of the music Tender Souvenirs strives to create. Each of the seven songs featured here twist and elegantly transform from quiet opening melodies to reverb-laden walls of guitar noise. Integral to the band's compositions are the use of frontman Martin Sassner's vocals and trumpet-playing, both of which are incorporated in a half-fuzzy/ half-dreamy style that works particularly well throughout the winding, tendril-like song structures. The underlying component to all of this, however, is Tender Souvenirs' skill in layering: the songs themselves are presented as one massive and synchronized crescendo, with each additional layer adding to the dramatic and intrinsically cinematic mood of the album. In specific, songs like "Emergency Broadcast System" and album closer "Safe Hands" stand out in their execution of this theme. Overall, Scars & Souvenirs represents an exceptional debut, and certainly provides a solid foundation for the band to build and evolve around. With any luck, Tender Souvenirs should shortly become a household name in the post-rock and Swedish indie arenas alike.

Album of the Week: Orbit; Dear Beacon

Orbit; Dear Beacon
Flee! To the Mammoth Canopy
Myspace

On Flee! to the Mammoth Canopy, UK four-piece Orbit; Dear Beacon present the listener with a glimpse into a brooding environment full of sonic divergence and experimentation. In short, the debut release marks the culmination of several years' effort and tribulation as well as a prolonged hiatus. As is the case with many bands,however, Orbit; Dear Beacon return from the break stronger than before in regards to song-writing and overall savvy. This fact becomes immediately palpable on opening track "Etched on Trees, We're Infinite". Ambient waves of reverbed guitar are combined with soft yet billowing strings, ultimately giving way to a shallow cascade of drums and bass. Not until the second portion, or movement, if you will, does the band delve into the traditional crescendo-laden structure. The ebb and flow of the piece is driven by an unusually strong bassline that falls into the mix opposite short bursts of tremolo and flourishing guitar. At this point on the disc, the listener is increasingly aware of Orbit; Dear Beacon's excellent use of dynamics and variety; not unlike contemporary tremolo-superstars Mono or ADTMF, the contrasting moods of Flee!... are made stronger by the fact that the band crafts its more ambient passages with the same fervor and concern obviously present in the heavier moments. This trend continues in the subsequent and concluding track "Flee! to the Mammoth Canopy". While Orbit Dear; Beacon are a bit more restrained on the final piece, the band do demonstrate a slightly heavier edge, leaning more towards a metallic sound than previously. Nonetheless, the underlying theme of contrast is well-executed and leaves the listener on a positive note. Overall, Orbit; Dear Beacon have released a solid debut, introducing themselves into a music scene desperate for individuality and new ideas. If this release is any indication, the band may be poised to become a future bright spot in instrumental rock.

The track "Flee! to the Mammoth Canopy (Part 2) " has been added to the Neosurrealist Playlist. Scroll down to check it out.

Upcoming Releases: Dreamend, The Autumns

Unofficially, the month of October marks the official release date of LA's shoegaze/dream-pop quintet The Autumns. According to various sources, the band's fourth full-length album, "Fake Noise from a Box of Toys" will be released on October 10th by Bella Union. While audio samples have yet to surface, the tracklist and artwork have been set:

1. Turning Strangers into Friends and Friends into Customers (0:51)
2. Boys (2:44)
3. Clem (3:43)
4. Midnight Knock (2:18)
5. Killer in Drag (4:54)
6. Night Music (4:45)
7. Only Young (3:39)
8. Glass Jaw (3:00)
9. Uncle Sim (4:18)
10. Beautiful Boot (2:30)
11. Adelaide (4:25)
12. Oh My Heart (6:07)

Additionally, while no track-list or release date have been organized for the upcoming release of "The Long-Forgotten Friend" from post-rock/shoegaze veterans Dreamend, an mp3 sample has been circulating the internet recently. Listen to the track, titled "Are You Waking", in the new Neosurrealist Playlist mp3 player.