Advanced Mathematics 4: Notes inégales

by Dæv Tremblay

Whew, we’ve recently gone from a very new concept, microrhythms, to a fairly advanced discussion on polyrhythms, polymetres, and polytempo. I hope that this season of Advanced Mathematics is enriching to you! Today, we’re going to talk about notes inégales – uneven notes –, what kids today call “swing feel”. It goes much deeper than what you probably imagine, and I hope you’ll learn something today!

The Triplet Feel

Most prevalent in jazz and blues music, the swing feel usually involves altering the length of two consecutive and equal notes. The most common example of this is the … Read more

RGG, Pohjola, and Blaser, My Wrist, Armando Curiel, Ensemble, et al., Cassette Merchant, Spooky Generator, Hope from Beyond, Discomfort, and Les Pompiers

by Dæv Tremblay

RGG, Verneri Pohjola, and Samuel Blaser – City of Gardens

I’ve been introduced to the wonderful trumpet work of Finnish musician Verneri Pohjola with the soundtrack to the Animal Image documentary, and so City of Gardens is my second time meeting his music, this time on an album with RGG’s “Contemporary Sonus”, trombonist Samuel Blaser, and many other musicians. This is a fantastic jazz album recorded live during the Silesian Jazz Festival in Katowice. I highly recommend it!

My Wrist – Touch Me

Touch Me, by My Wrist, belongs in the experimental metal territory, I believe. Somewhere … Read more

Lemmings Suicide Myth – Lemmings Suicide Myth

by Dæv Tremblay

The Music

The Words

As I was preparing to close off this week’s release amalgam, I stumbled upon this intriguing cover art in the jazz section of bandcamp’s discovery tool. After a few seconds of the featured song playing, I was sold. I opened the album page and bought it, and, minutes before the scheduled publication, included it in my weekly post.

So, what’s this album that made it by the skin of its teeth into my week? Lemmings Suicide Myth‘s second self-titled album. Based off of Tarot cards, this jazz fusion drums and piano duo is … Read more

Weekly Release Dump

by Dæv Tremblay

Sunday, 13

Plasticbag Facemask – How to Kill a Dead Franchise (progressive deathcore)

Monday, 14

Comatone & Foley – Trigger Happy 2 (experimental electronics)

Condone – No Room, No Place (hardcore)

Miniatures – Trazos inexactos por un cuerpo gris buscando la excelencia (progressive death metal)

Quasi-Stellar Radio Source – I (progressive metal)

… Read more

Dalila Kayros – Transmutations, Part I: Yin Side

by Dæv Tremblay

The Music

The Words

Electronic music is underrepresented on this website. I acknowledge it and I try to change it, but when something worth posting about comes out, I find out only months later. I need better birds to chirp to me… But here we are, today, with Dalila Kayros‘ album Transmutations, Part I. I was unaware that the brilliant singer of avant-prog project Combat Astronomy had an even more amazing electronic music solo project going on.

Yin Side is an amazing avant-pop album in every regard. If you don’t mind the uncommon mode and breakbeat rhythms of … Read more

Leviathan Owl – Love for the Other

by Dæv Tremblay

The Music

The Words

The time has come! Leviathan Owl‘s second EP is finally here. As some of you might remember, I was pleasantly surprised by Andrew Scott’s debut under this moniker, and I was expecting its successor to be just as good. Well, fear not, for it is even better in every regards than last year’s Everything Will Be Fine.

Andrew keeps the flame and spirit of instrumental progressive metal alive with various odd time signatures, a varied choice of harmonies, and compelling riffs and beats that speak directly to your heart. It’s not cheesy, or if … Read more

Advanced Mathematics 3: Polyamory

by Dæv Tremblay

The notation used was originally made by Urs Liska over at Lilypondblog.org.

In music, as in life, you can have relationships with whoever you want. In both cases, however, cultural and popular acceptance of this freedom is only in its early stages. Many countries still forbid homosexual relationships, just as many musical genres frown upon polynumeric rhythms. Today, we’ll take a look at polyrhythm, polymetre, polytempo, and non-dyadic – also mistakenly known as irrational – time signatures.

If you haven’t already, please read our previous post on microrhythms.

Polyrhythm

What is a polyrhythm? Simply enough, it’s two or more … Read more