Post-Rock

EP Review: Cloudkicker – Little Histories

Cloudkicker Little Histories cover
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I’m shocked that I haven’t heard of Cloudkicker until now because it’s exactly the sort of thing I love to listen to. The music is a combination of post-rock, metal and djent – think along the lines of Russian Circles, Dumbsaint and Oceansize.

Then again, in some ways it isn’t all that surprising that I haven’t heard of it.

Cloudkicker is a one man project run by Ben Sharp, someone who has taken the DIY ethic to heart. All his music is self-produced and available on Bandcamp for pay-what-you-want. He doesn’t tour (being a one man band) and he’s not signed to a label. He’s not out to make any money from his project either.

The liner notes for a previous album, The Discovery, say “this album was recorded for a grand total of $0, and is therefore being distributed for free.  if you paid money for this you’re a sucker.” His music is also all filed under Creative Commons license, making it available to whoever, for whatever, for free. One label, Blood Music, took advantage of this by printing physical records of releases that Sharp had neglected to make himself, and Sharp was completely cool with it.

I hadn’t heard about Cloudkicker because there is no promotion for the project. Sharp doesn’t care about profiting from his music so he’s not pushing for publicity.

But now I’ve discovered Cloudkicker and I fell like a magpie in a jewellery shop. I love the music, and I have access to a large back catalogue that I can explore to discover musical gems.

Before I discuss Little Histories, I need to mention the Live with Intronaut album. This live album is one that negates many of the points that I just made about Cloudkicker. Because Cloudkicker is a one-man project, there was never much likelihood of live performances. But Sharp befriended the band Intronaut, who in turn offered up their services to Sharp as the Cloudkicker backing band. It didn’t seem possible at first, but in April 2014 it happened: a live tour and a live recording for those who couldn’t make the shows. The live album was released on Century Media due to contractual  obligations that Intronaut were held to, making it the only Cloudkicker release that isn’t fully DIY or available for free.

Little Histories is the EP that follows, released a month after the live album.

Little Histories transcends from the floaty “Parliment”, to the cosmic “Sky Guide”, that includes vocoder, before getting heavier with “Charmeleon”. “Digital Lightening” sounds sinister and ominous, distorted and washy until the articulate riffing begins. The last track, “Hassan” builds gradually, the tension escalates before the music begins to syncopate and layer up.

“Signal/Noise” is a digital bonus track originally released years ago. It won’t be included on a physical release Sharp is planning. A busy drum tattoo propels the songs as it ascends with guitar swells. The song gets fuzzier and the cymbals wash up as song escalates and the guitars soar.

The EP phases well between songs, there is a deliberate progression throughout. Sharp is a pilot and names many of his song and album titles after plane crashes. Although Little Histories isn’t a concept album as such, I like to think of it as a soundtrack for a flight. The flight is going smoothly, until they hit a storm and have to battle turbulence.

Although Cloudkicker is very much a metal project, there is plenty of variety on offer. There are quieter post-rock moments, and chugging djenty riffs, as well. Cloudkicker covers all sides of the spectrum.

This is one man messing around and self recording at home, but most of the music could pass for live instrumentation. I wouldn’t have been able to pick that he uses a drum machine.

If you like post-rock/metal/djent give Cloudkicker a listen. It won’t cost you anything and if you like it there is an extensive discography for perusal at your pleasure.

Joseph James

Album review: Jakob – Sines

Jakob Sines Vinyl Cover
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Sines is the eagerly awaited fourth album from post-rock trio Jakob and when I say awaited, I mean it! Fans have waited eight years for new music. Jakob’s previous release, Solace, was released all the way back in 2006. Of course I am biased because I’m a New Zealander, but I honestly think Jakob are the best in the world at what they do.

I share this review pretty late because vinyl pressing was delayed, causing my precious double LP copy to arrive four weeks later than expected. I’ve listened to the digital download many times, but I wanted to be able to read through the liner notes before I write my review.

I needn’t have waited. I already knew that Wellington composer and past collaborator Rhian Sheehan had a part to play in the arrangements on this album. His touch is noticeable. Each song seems to be more crafted than those from Jakob’s back catalogue. Sheehan also organised the strings sections that feature on the tracks “Emergent” and “Harmonia”. The stringed sextet really make a difference to the sound. There is a glimmering brightness in the midst of the swells and waves.

The additions of strings adds an ephemeral dose of magic to the music, as does the addition of piano on “Darkness”. It’s these small changes that help Sines stand out as a progressive step for Jakob. The strings and keys are delicate and subtle, yet make a noticeable difference.

Jakob Tuning Fork Maurice

And of course, let’s not forget the music made by the three band members themselves. Without them the additional touches are worthless. They have the same formula that they’ve used in the past: Cultivate a riff or a beat. Nurture it. Let it grow and thrive and establish roots. Let it sizzle and hum and gain momentum, wailing and looping and building. And when the simmering and bubbling is about to overflow, unleash it.

The album highlight for me is the track “Emergent”. It stands out as quite a departure from the other songs because it doesn’t feature any drums, and because of the aforementioned stringed accompaniment. It’s a beautiful, tender track that almost makes your eyes do that weird wet thing that you get when you cut onions.

Sines is instantly recognisable as a release from Jakob. They are not re-inventing themselves. There is no risk of offending their established fan base. Sines is a continuation and improvement of an already perfect formula. By recruiting additional musicians to help with the recording and crafting of the album, Jakob have built on their already impressive reputation and cemented themselves as one of the best post-rock bands out there.

Jakob San Fran Jeff

This review was originally posted on Stereofox.com

You can also read my live review of Jakob playing at San Francisco Bathhouse in Wellington.

Joseph James

Album Review: Maybeshewill – Fair Youth

Maybeshewill Fair Youth vinyl record album cover
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My first introduction to Maybeshewill was via a sampler that came attached to a Rock Sound magazine. I had ripped the CD to my family’s computer before quickly renaming the song, originally titled “The Paris Hilton Sex Tape”. The song had nothing to do with a hotel heiress or any publicity stunt of hers (as far as I’m aware), but I certainly wasn’t going to risk my parents discovering a file with a name like that on our computer.

Despite the songs naughty name, I loved everything about it. A perfect blend of live instrumentation and electronica with dynamics that made the track stand above bland offerings of similar bands like Explosions in the Sky. This was not a song intended to be background noise that adds to the atmosphere, this song demanded your attention.

That song was from the band’s debut, Not for Want of Trying. Six years later I find myself excitedly ripping open the bands fourth studio release, Fair Youth and dropping a needle onto the record to see how it compares.

Uplifting is the word that jumps to mind when I try to describe Fair Youth. The reason for this could be that the guitars have taken a back seat to the keys. Don’t worry, the guitars aren’t absent – riffing and rocking remains present- but the crunching distortion has been surpassed by soaring swells and harmonies.

It leaves me feeling slightly uneasy when a band I adore begins to “mature”, but in this case I’m able to cope with change. All things mellow with age, but this is offset by the fact that the band’s collective talent has grown. Maybeshewill have managed to go bigger without losing their indie credentials (the record was shipped to me from the guitarists’ spare room in Leicester).

Everything sounds more professional. Electronic elements are more prominent now, but the sampling that stood out on previous albums is missing. I wouldn’t say this is a bad thing, because the sampling sometimes detracted from old songs. The production has noticeably improved and the record sounds grander with the addition of brass and strings section. It’s the subtle touches that make the difference, like an angelic choir adding harmony to the final track.

Fair Youth is a brighter, happier sounding record from Maybeshewill. The album sounds like hope and aspirations and kittens. It balances well on the instrumental spectrum, melodic enough to sit in the background, but still engaging enough to be a satisfying listen. This is one of the times I’m happy to say growth and change of direction for a band can be a good thing.

It is hard to keep abreast of what is worth listening to in the rapidly growing genre of instrumental music. Maybeshewill is one of the bands worth listening to.

 

Joseph James