SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 05, 2012
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Posts Tagged ‘Ambient’

6LA8 – In the Land of Dreams

6LA8 are known to be a very prolific bunch and they keep establishing themselves in new territory with every new release. In the Land of Dreams is the band’s fifth album to date and the band shows no signs of letting up. It is largely grounded in electronic music as opposed to the band’s ealier work which although, does make use of electronic elements, it has never been done in such a prominent and well-coordinated fashion. If you are a fan of Autechre with a touch of Mogwai, this is exactly what you are looking for but of course, like I always say, this is only intended to give you an estimate of what you are in for. This is legit. This is definitely my favourite Pakistani release to date. In fact, one of the best pieces of music I have heard this year regardless of the fact that I programmed drums on Distressing Peaks in the Moral Landscape. Just had to get that out of the way. :P

Tracks I enjoy in particular: Drowning in a Clumsy Fashion, Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute, The Part Where Credits Roll and You Remember You Had Legs, Distressing Peaks in the Moral Landscape.

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6LA8 – The Drone Collective

A particularly prolific bunch of musicians, 6LA8, are out with their new album. The album is called the Drone Collective and it was written to be released in conjunction with This is Not a Conceptual Album but the band have decided to release it only now because of the two’s differing styles. If you are a fan of July Skies, Aidan Baker and Stars of the Lid accompanied by subtle social commentary, this is for you.

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Basheer & The Pied Pipers – Paperclouds (EP)

Basheer & The Pied Pipers are a duo originally from Islamabad who are currently based in Karachi and their music kicks all manner of ass. They have just put out their debut EP; glitchy electronic musketeering complimented by expansive ambient textures. Think Fennesz spliced with Frank Bretschneider. Bear in mind, this is just meant to give you an estimate as to what the band sounds like. Decide for yourselves. This is fucking great. Everybody check this out right now!  Get the EP off their Bandcamp

Bigotry – Distorted Aphorisms in Sleep

Bigotry is a project by Taimur Mazhar Sheikh of Aus Rine and 6LA8 and it seems to me like an outlet for the more basic and primal variety of music that Taimur tried to do with early Aus Rine.

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The Eternal Twilight – Everything Resembles You

This isn’t the first time the Eternal Twilight has been featured on the Markhor mostly because it is headed by my two good friends, Abbas Haider and Noor Kadiwala. :P I have literally seen the band grow from talks of an EP to a full-length album. The band-members are mostly known for their other more famous side-projects (Necktarium, Bleak Emptiness etc.) but the fact that the Eternal Twilight is a more collaborative effort and has taken over 18 months to develop, you wouldn’t be wrong to assume that these guys have dedicated most of their time and efforts to the band. Anyway, here they are with their first full-length entitled Everything Resembles You, a sound especially reminiscent of Eluvium and Hammock, with a heavy emphasis on keyboard based melodies a la M83.

I really like the album for its cohesiveness and overall consistency.  The sound is very meditational. Very earthy. And it reflects this druidic reverence for nature only found in the more atmospheric variety of Black Metal music. Case in point: Dim Lights and Cold Himalayan Nights. My only issue with it, however, is that it is not very difficult to estimate where they are coming from on some of their songs in terms of inspiration and the drum sound is really overbearing at times.

Highlights of the album: Every Morning The Sun Shines After You, When We Were Not What We Are and Out Of Focus, Out Of Sight & Suddenly, Out Of Reach.

A highly recommended release. Check it out.

The Eternal Twilight (Bandcamp)

 

The album also features:

  • Quinn Montoya from USA and his band My Cats A Stargazer.
  • German ambient guitarist, Christian Erfurt, who guests on Out Of Focus, Out Of Sight & Suddenly, Out Of Reach.
  • The album is mastered by Quinn Montoya.