Posts Tagged ‘Hydra Head’
Tuesday, March 9th, 2010
The strangely grooving maelstrom that is Daughters unveils its best album this week — a combination of behemoth low end, gnarly rock riffs, and guitar leads that sound like tornado sirens.
Germany’s Imperium Dekadenz delivers “intelligent black metal” with a set of epic arrangements and acoustic passages. Adventurous art-rock trio Liars issues another bold album that defies convention, and Aloha — “that indie-rock band with the marimba” — expands its sound a bit for another solid outing. (more…)
Tags: Acrassicauda, Aloha, At the Gates, Besnard Lakes, Cougars, Daughters, Eluveitie, Gonjasufi, Gorillaz, Hydra Head, Iannis Xenakis, Imperium Dekadenz, Jagjaguwar, Liars, Lightning Bolt, Mute, Nuclear Blast, Polyvinyl, Season of Mist, The Jesus Lizard, Vice, Warp, Zu
Posted in Best Albums | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
Guzheng virtuoso Bei Bei and prolific producer Shawn Lee team up to deliver what will be one of the year’s finest albums, a tour through funky down-tempo jams and Kung-Fu flavor that is driven by the tactile beauty of an ancient Chinese instrument.
With its third album, Algernon places greater emphasis on synthesizers and sprawling song structures, but at its core is the combination of accessibility and technicality that has defined bandleader Dave Miller’s style.
And in a great week for releases, the Chicago Underground Duo releases another dichotomy of avant-garde jazz, grooves, and programming, while electronic composer Noah Creshevsky crafts musical patchworks from samples of orchestras, vocalists, pop music, and much more. (more…)
Tags: 482 Music, Algernon, Bei Bei, Chicago Underground Duo, Cuneiform, Dave Miller, Domino, Exploding Star Orchestra, Four Tet, Fredrik, Harvey Milk, Hydra Head, Isotope 217, Joan of Arc, Noah Creshevsky, Rob Mazurek, Shawn Lee, Thrill Jockey, Tortoise, Tzadik, Ubiquity, Yuka Honda
Posted in Best Albums | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
For this limited-edition live release, eclectic IDM composer Squarepusher — a.k.a. bass guru Tom Jenkinson — displays his uncanny ability to play a six-string bass like a classical guitar.
Following a Grammy-nominated debut in 2005, the John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble issues a shape-shifting big-band/classical disc with crossover appeal.
Chugging mathcore quartet Keelhaul steps ever so gently from the shadows on an aptly titled return to form.
Experimental guitarist David Daniell and pedal-steel guitarist Douglas McCombs lay tape to four long-form creations that intertwine composition and improvisation.
Gritty punk fury, driving riffs, guitar squeals, and mish-mashed time signatures again define Pissed Jeans on the band’s third full-length album.
The Waitiki 7 balances a thematic tribute to Martin Denny and musical stars of yore with piano-driven Latin sounds, modern jazz, lounge, and film motifs. (more…)
Tags: Claudia Quartet, David Daniell, David Yow, Doug McCombs, Frank Rosaly, Hydra Head, John Herndon, John Hollenbeck, Keelhaul, Martin Denny, Pass Out, Pissed Jean, Squarepusher, Steven Hess, Sub Pop, Sunnyside, The Jesus Lizard, The Waitiki 7, Theo Bleckmann, Thrill Jockey, Tom Jenkinson, Tortoise, Warp
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2009
The members of Cave In have resurfaced to redefine their sound once again — this time with their heaviest material since Until Your Heart Stops. Old-school fans should be really fucking pumped.
John Zorn’s beautiful sequel to The Dreamers covers Tropicália and other exotic styles with an all-star backing ensemble.
Full of instrumental country, lap-steel blues, and twangy Americana, Bill Frisell’s newest soundtrack is a multimedia venture set to the folksy black-and-white photos of Michael Disfarmer.
After more than 20 years as a frenetic bass/drums duo, Tatsuya Yoshida’s Ruins transforms to a sax/drums duo for a new sonic texture.
(more…)
Tags: Adam McGrath, Arthur Crudup, Bill Frisell, Caleb Scofield, Cave In, Clouds, Cyro Baptista, Greg Leisz, Hank Williams Sr., Hydra Head, Jamie Saft, Jenny Scheinman, John Zorn, Kenny Wollesen, Marc Ribot, Michael Disfarmer, Nonesuch, Old Man Gloom, Ono Ryoko, Ruins, Sax Ruins, Stephen Brodsky, Tatsuya Yoshida, Trevor Dunn, Tzadik, Zozobra
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Monday, July 20th, 2009
Finally! Some feel-good, day-at-the-beach, summertime music:
Cave In’s “Planet of Old” 12″ won’t be released until July 28, but you can stream it online today at www.planetsofold.com.
Cave In also announced today that an “All Natural Vanilla Pistachio Ice Cream” colored version of the album available ONLY at Hydra Head Records’ new vinyl record store, Vacation Vinyl.
Tags: Cave In, Hydra Head
Posted in Music News | No Comments »
Monday, June 29th, 2009
This picture is horrible. Absolutely horrible.
But the Kayo Dot crew is pretty rad, so we’ll let it pass.
Fresh off of a US tour opening for Trey Spruance’s amazing SECRET CHIEFS 3, KAYO DOT has arrived in Seattle to begin recording their second full length release for Hydra Head Industries.
Throughout the tour, they performed and refined the new compositions, bringing them to new audiences and honing them for the upcoming recording, with Toby Driver also picking up bass duties for SECRET CHIEFS 3 each night. The new music features another sonic shift in the ever-evolving sonic lexicon of KAYO DOT. Expect a more visceral rhythmic sound with overdriven chorus basses, cave-echoed horns, vocals and strings, tuned struck metal, and a purveying melodic darkness threaded delicately throughout the sound of the music. Once again, the record will be recorded by Randall Dunn (Sunn O))), Earth, Six Organs Of Admittance) who also recorded KAYO DOT’S critically acclaimed Hydra Head release from 2008, BLUE LAMBENCY DOWNWARD. Expect the release of the new music on Hydra Head in Fall of 2009, with a September / October European tour and US tour to follow the album release! – Toby Driver / Kayo Dot
Stream Kayo Dot’s 2008 album, “Blue Lambency Downward,” here.
Tags: Hydra Head, Kayo Dot, Secret Chiefs 3
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2009
There’s plenty of musical inbreeding as well as doom, drone, and psych this week as we sort through new releases from Sunn O))), Khanate, Grizzly Bear, Sir Richard Bishop, Master Musicians of Bukkake, and Vieux Farka Touré. (more…)
Tags: Alan Bishop, Alan Dubin, Ali Farka Toure, Asva, Bill Frisell, Bill Horist, Blind Idiot God, Burial Chamber Trio, Conspiracy, Don McGreevy, Drag City, Dylan Carlson, Earth, Estradasphere, Eyvind Kang, Ghidra, Greg Anderson, Grizzly Bear, Hydra Head, James Plotkin, Jessika Kenney, John Coltrane, John Zorn, Julian Priester, Khanate, Master Musicians of Bukkake, Milky, OLD, Oren Ambarchi, Phantomsmasher, Randall Dunn, Secret Chiefs 3, Sir Richard Bishop, Six Degrees, Southern Lord, Stephen O'Malley, Sun City Girls, Sun Ra, Sunn O))), Tim Wyskida, Timb Harris, Toumani Diabate, Vieux Farka Toure, Warp
Posted in Best Albums | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, May 12th, 2009
Big Business: Mind the Drift
Big Business presents its “weirdest, most epic album yet,” Germany’s Andromeda Mega Express Orchestra releases a beautiful and dazzling creation, and Jeremy Enigk employs a minimalist lineup for melodic singer/songwriter tunes. (more…)
Tags: Alien Transistor, Andromeda Mega Express Orchestra, Arnold Schoenberg, Bela Bartok, Big Business, Coady Willis, Daniel Glatzel, Hydra Head, Jared Warren, Jeremy Enigk, Lewis Hollow, sunny day real estate, The Notwist, Toshi Kasai
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Monday, January 26th, 2009
Our list of favorites from last year includes devastating dub metal, organ-fueled psychedelic grind, a re-released classic-rock gem from nearly four decades ago, an international assemblage of punk-infused field recordings, and an Indian/surf/metal take on John Zorn’s Masada material. (more…)
Tags: An Albatross, Anti, Anticon, Bloodshot, Dub Trio, Eyeball, Firewater, Fucked Up, Grinderman, Hydra Head, Ipecac, John Zorn, Light in the Attic, Masada, Matador, Mike Patton, Mogwai, Naked City, Nick Cave, Rodriguez, Roky Erickson, Secret Chiefs 3, SteadyBoy, Torche, Trey Spruance, Tzadik, Why?, Yoni Wolf
Posted in Music Features | 1 Comment »
Friday, January 16th, 2009
More details emerge about the upcoming Supermachiner release; the Shrinebuilder super-group begins recording; Mono announces a new album; Orange Tulip Conspiracy announces a full US tour for May. Get these and 10 other news bit after the jump. (more…)
Tags: Anti, Big Business, Billy Martin, Bygones, Cattle Decapitation, Converge, Dale Crover, Deathwish Inc., Estradasphere, Fucked Up, Grandaddy, Hatebreed, Hydra Head, Jacob Bannon, Jason Schimmel, JD Wilkes, Jeff Parker, Kaki King, Kurt Ballou, Marco Benevento, Mastodon, Melvins, Mono, Neurosis, Neurot, Om, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, Orange Tulip Conspiracy, Pig Destroyer, Reed Mathis, Sargent House, Scott Amendola, Sepultura, Shrinebuilder, Skerik, Sleep, Stones Throw, Supermachiner, Temporary Residence, Tera Melos, Th' Legendary Shack Shakers, The Hidden Hand, Torche, Toshi Kasai, Trash Talk, Zach Hill
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Thursday, January 15th, 2009
Fans have eagerly awaited the completion of Big Business’ newest album, Mind the Drift (Hydra Head), and so have we. Though you’ll still have to wait to hear the whole album, yesterday the band posted album track “Gold and Final” on its MySpace page. (more…)
Tags: Big Business, Hydra Head, Melvins, Mind the Drift, Phil Ek, Toshi Kasai
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Monday, January 12th, 2009
This year promises to be a great one for music. Isis, The Bad Plus, Mastodon, Dan Deacon, Coalesce, Jerseyband, Converge, and at least three Mike Patton creations (Mondo Cane, Fantômas, Crudo) are slated to release new albums.
Get the ETA on these and other anticipated albums after the jump. (more…)
Tags: Carpark, Coalesce, Coliseum, Converge, Crudo, Crunchy Frog, Dan Deacon, Dan the Automator, Fantomas, Garage a Trois, Heads Up, Hydra Head, Ipecac, Isis, Jerseyband, Kylesa, Lovage, Marco Benevento, Mastodon, Medeski Martin & Wood, Mike Dillon, Mike Patton, Mimicry, Mondo Cane, Powersolo, Prosthetic, Relapse, Secret Chiefs 3, Skerik, Stanton Moore, Supermachiner, Telarc, The Bad Plus, Zu
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Monday, October 20th, 2008
Lord knows that there are thousands of record labels in the world. So how does one go about separating itself from the rest (other than through awesome music)? That would be with a good name. Thankfully, these labels all have great music as well.
(more…)
Tags: Alternative Tentacles, Blast First (Petite), Cryptogramophone, Hydra Head, Ipecac, Lovepump United, Mimicry, Ninja Tune, Planet Mu, Secret Chiefs 3, Smalltown Supersound, Thrill Jockey
Posted in Music Features, Music News | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 18th, 2007
Despite increasingly miserable mainstream hits (how can the radio get any worse?), 2007 was an excellent, indulgent, fulfilling year of music. Here is a look at our favorite ten albums of the year. (more…)
Tags: Anti, Bad Brains, Big Business, Brother Ali, Dead Oceans, Exploding Star Orchestra, Grinderman, Heavy Trash, High on Fire, Hydra Head, Ipecac, Jon Spencer, Megaforce, Melvins, Nick Cave, Phosphorescent, Relapse, Rhymesayers, Thrill Jockey, Tinariwen, Tomahawk, World Village, Yep Roc
Posted in Music Features | 1 Comment »
A trio of pairs top our list this week. Jon Spencer and Matt Verta-Ray unleash their third disc of old-school roots rock and rockabilly as Heavy Trash, collaborating with a bona fide cast of contributors to create some of its finest tunes on a disc that expands its repertoire.
