Aurgasm

post-rock // cinematic ambient

The cinematic aural experience that post-rock can create is really quite unique to the genre. Arms and Sleepers have previously toured with Aurgasm favorite, The American Dollar, but they were spotted back when I went to an event called Split/Signal. There, bands performed live, providing score to silent short films. Unquestionably, Arms and Sleepers’ performance was the most stunning. The songs below come from their older work; vocals fans may enjoy their newest release, Matador.

Equally divine in both fore and background listening.
Arms And Sleepers - The Motorist
Arms And Sleepers - Runner Misplaced
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Americana // Soul // Rock

When handed Gavin Glass’s Holy Shakers album and told it was more rock than what he’s playing with Lisa Hannigan’s ensemble, never did I expect to be astonished and excited by such genuine southern rock sounds. Born and bred in Ireland, Gavin left school at eighteen to pursue various paths of music, eventually being impassioned by a documentary about Canada’s The Band. From there his sound took on a timeless nostalgia of folk, country, blues and rock, with sparse moments of gospel and jazz. He sings like the heart of a soul that rarely gets to speak; a longing for years of wonder to embrace the hopes and dreams of childhood, through ragged stages of growing up, discovering, and becoming whoever you are.

Earnest southern rock from Dublin.
Gavin Glass - The Juxebox Rag
Gavin Glass - Ragdoll (with Cathy Davey)
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post-rock // cinematic ambient

Please click play. Then click full screen. Big headphones are recommended, as well. “Anything You Synthesize” comes with a heavyweight cerebral punch, but it’s delivered a on silken aural ether. The American Dollar, a Queens, NY duo, construct experimental ambient sonic explorations with a healthy rock influence. This video, created by the Onesize design studio, turns a cinematic song into an enveloping sensory experience. (thx, zimsical)

Mighty sonic expertise meet visual cameracraft.
The American Dollar - Anything You Synthesize
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post-rock // instrumental

While post-rock fans have been enjoying El Ten Eleven’s textured, atmospheric instrumentals since their 2004 self-titled debut album, it wasn’t until I saw Helvetica, which heavily features tracks from 2007’s Every Direction is North, that I discovered this creative duo. The music meanders and crescendos, calms and invigorates, adding layer after layer to an emotional journey. You can’t help but want to go along for the ride.

Double neck bass guitar, electric drums, and effects pedaling delight.
El Ten Eleven - My Only Swerving (stream only)
El Ten Eleven - Living on Credit Blues
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california glam-pop // breezy electro-rock

The keytar is our first tip-off. The way its plaintive, dull-yet-sunny sound meshes with Juliette Commagere’s vocals, the electronic overlays, the rich bounce of bass, is a recipe for some very catchy pop. It’s a new-new-wave sound, shiny and nostalgic; it siphons something of Blondie and Berlin, of Latin pop and Irish ditties, and swirls the whole thing into a dance party. Hailing from Silverlake CA, Hello Stranger, formerly Vagenius, are effortlessly attuned to and enamored of LA’s decadent, chintzy, eclectic culture of Hip. Their lyrics admit as much with nonchalant honesty - that is, when they are not being all tongue-in-cheek.

Feels like you’ve been humming these melodies forever
Hello Stranger - Her In These Lights
Hello Stranger- Es Tu Vida

Post contributed by Natalia
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