Wozzeck – Act 5

by Dæv Tremblay

Taking up enough space to fill two complete CD’s and a half with its 200 minutes of play time, experimentalists Wozzeck‘s Act 5 is an experience in tediousness, repetitiveness, droning, long polyrhythms, and slowly evolving music.

The album is divided into 5 parts, each of 40 minutes, and each with its fundamental concept. It was recorded as a trio consisting of bass, drums, and a computer/keyboards/electronics/voice/guitars person, who happens to be the mastermind behind the project, Ilia Belorukov. The first part, “Act 5.1”, stems from a single 11/8 bar at 120 bpm, and is divide in 8 parts with … Read more

Auric – Empty Seas

by Dæv Tremblay

Auric is as sludgy as can be. With tinges of black and doom metal, this makes for a very oppressing record. It’s heavy, it’s ugly, and it’s scary.

The album starts off in your face, and it ends in your face, and there are very few moments of rest in-between (the first half of Stagnate being the most prominent one). I really like the atmospheres that are being brought in the music, just making you feel unwell. The last song, Rib Cage Prison, imports elements of post-metal too, giving to the song a different feel than the rest of … Read more

July Recommendations

by Dæv Tremblay

monthlyrecommendationsjuly

Here’s the monthly recommendations post you’ve awaited for so long! Ah, who am I kidding? I’m the only one reading this blog! Anyways, what are the unmissable releases of July 2015, according to the three-legged raven?

First off is Ethan McKenna‘s sophomore, In Transition. It’s what I’d call an acoustic prog album. Ethan makes use of advanced techniques on his acoustic, like percussive playing, loads of harmonics, and some slap and tapping too, for good measure. Even though its main focus is on the acoustic guitar, it’s well-accompanied by the usual bass and drums, and sometimes even by … Read more

trioVD – Fill It Up With Ghosts

by Dæv Tremblay
trioVD is an experimental jazz trio from the UK, and Fill It Up With Ghosts is their 2009 debut album. After this one, they’ve released X in 2011 and Maze in 2012.

I would readily compare trioVD with T.R.A.M., as they’re both experimental jazz trios comprised of a saxophone, a guitar, and drums. Both lacking the low end and groove provided by the bass guitar; it may be because I’m a bassist myself that I find this somewhat enraging, but it is quite upsetting that such great music goes without a bassist, it seems like such a waste! Still, trioVD, … Read more

News: Covet live studio video!

by Dæv Tremblay
Covet is a math rock trio led by Yvette Young, the guitar virtuoso (if you haven’t checked her solo acoustic EP, you need to right now, right here). The song, either unnamed or eponymous to the band’s name, is rather relaxed but shows some great musicianship from everybody but mostly from the frontwoman, Yvette. They’re supposedly in the studio, recording their debut album, and if you’re not excited for it, you need to listen to the Acoustics EP she put out!… Read more