Mono - Hymn to the Immortal Wind (2009)

This is the new Mono release, which, so far, has not let me down even a little bit. If you don't know Mono, they're a Japanese post-rock band that stands apart (for me, at least) for having deftly struck an ideal balance between the mounting, layered grind of guitars and the radiant, sparkling infinity of instruments with a more delicate sound (all said upon realizing it makes me a pretentious assclown). I'm making a pilgrimage to see them with a 25-piece orchestra in May.



Download.

Fuck Buttons - Street Horrrsing (2008)

Though they've only got one record to their name at the moment, I love this band dearly. Their sound is reminiscent of all the bands in the the creepy, dark underbelly of the 1970's that produced so much of my favourite music, only their sound is a little more aggressive, crunchier. I saw them live the other night, and it blew my head off. (They upstaged Mogwai hardcore, in my opinion.)



Download.

This Will Destroy You discography.

This Texas band is in the vein of really pretty post-rock, just not the jugular. I can't wait to see them Friday night!


Self-titled (2008)


Young Mountain EP (2006)

Meanwhile, Back In Communist Russia... discography.

As a ladly-loving, long-time fan of lots of bands in the post-rock genre, it's been my mission for a while now to find a post-rock band with a female front-woman or vocalist. This is about the closest I came, and I'm not disappointed. Hailing from Oxford, England, this band, which broke in 2004, was definitely sound. The vocals are not actually sung; rather, they're really creepy spoken word pieces set to dark, grinding, mostly structureless music. However, it goes down more easily than you may be anticipating.




My Elixir, My Poison (2003)



Indian Ink (2002)