Murmur - S/T (Season of Mist, 2014)

Chicago metal band Murmur has returned with an eponymous sophomore effort that is nothing less than brilliant. To be honest, it took me off guard. The diversity of styles is overwhelming, the playing is loose yet polished, and the theme shows a great deal of growth and maturity.

This could be a tricky one for those of you that find the avant garde aesthetic a bit much to handle. The record begins with a wash of ambient free improvisation, launches into a traditional blast beat, then cycles through experimental waves of progressive (yes, King Crimson), 80's, tribal polyrhythms, acoustic, noise, jazz, and post-rock. They even break down a 70's hard rock ballad. Vocals are blackened, occasionally clean melodic harmonies, and some atonal rants, although the bulk of the album is instrumental.

What strikes me is that even though packing all of this into the same recording sounds as if it would be too busy and math rock'ish, it is not. Murmur's delivery still feels casual and uncomplicated. Most notably, this may be the most interesting metal drummer I've heard in years. At times, due to his style, it's easy to forget this is a metal record at all.

I must admit, I've never been much on prog, yet my heightened sensitivity levels came through unscathed.
This feels more like a lush and fantastic voyage through a faraway--Wait... I think the prog elements just drugged me.

Zelienople - The World is a House on Fire (Type, 2012)

Everyone's favorite Chicago drone poppers / pill poppers are back with another glorious outing. I've had this on repeat for two months. Its really the kind of record you can listen three times consecutively before you realize its happened.

This album is less doom and gloom than the last. Here they stick with a freeform shoegaze vibe, mixed with a  ghostly americana aesthetic. Think Slowdive's "Pygmalion" meets Labradford's "Mi Media Naranja". In fact, this is a perfect hybrid of those two records, which incidentally are two of my favorite records.

Listen / Buy the LP HERE

Virgo Four - Resurrection (Rush Hour, 2011)

This compilation of unreleased original tracks from 1984-1990 showcases the brilliance of Chicago deep house producers Eric Lewis and Merl Saunders.

In opposition to the jacked house of the time, Virgo Four's beats and bass were more ethereal and they incorporated ambient sounds, all the while keeping it minimal and grasping at the negative space. Many of the parts were played by hand, which makes it warmer and also works well with the borrowed krautrock vibes.

They could've been huge but Stricltly Rhythm didn't have the faith to sign them. This is really impressive stuff except for some of the attempts at lyrics. The vocals are a bit silly. Also check out their first release Virgo Four EP.

Get it Here

Implodes - Black Earth (Kranky, 2011)

The curtain opens and a lovely siren calls you to join a cult that has been around since before time began. The dreamy guitar welcomes you to a murky world of tribal yet simplistic percussion, washed out vocal incantations, over-driven infinite reverb, delay and distortion. These elements elegantly cloak this deceptively pretty soundscape.

The theme here is oppressively dismal but irresistible. With a legacy of influences like Swans, J&MC, Flying Saucer Attack and Jesu, this Chicago quartet coalesced around guitarists Matt Jencik (HURL, DON CABALLERO) & Ken Camden finds a narrow path with definitive intent. Never does this record feel like it strays. Its an extremely cohesive Drone experience. One of the best records of 2011, and by far the best album cover.

Get it Here