http://www.thegeekcouch.com Music. Movies. Random Geekdom. Wed, 28 May 2014 13:27:59 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.8.10 Fiercely Independent Music. Artist interviews. Hosted by Sean C. Duregger. Sean C. Duregger no Sean C. Duregger [email protected] [email protected] (Sean C. Duregger) Sean C. Duregger Fiercely Independent Music. music, independent, rock, alternative, post rock, interviews, art, culture http://www.thegeekcouch.com/wp-content/uploads/powerpress/geekcouchbp.png http://www.thegeekcouch.com http://www.thegeekcouch.com/2013/07/19/deep-elm-records-sign-cinematic-post-rock-duo-u137/ http://www.thegeekcouch.com/2013/07/19/deep-elm-records-sign-cinematic-post-rock-duo-u137/#comments Fri, 19 Jul 2013 17:09:05 +0000 http://www.thegeekcouch.com/?p=9843 http://www.thegeekcouch.com/2013/07/19/deep-elm-records-sign-cinematic-post-rock-duo-u137/feed/ 0 Adam Tornblad,Coldplay,Deep Elm Records,Dorena,Explosions In The Sky,John Szuch,Lights & Motion,M83,Moonlit Sailor,Oscar Gullbrandsen,Sigur Rós,Six Parts Seven Adam Tornblad and Oscar Gullbrandsen of Deep Elm's Moonlit Sailor have a side project called U137. They are yet another "cinematic post-rock" artist that the label has signed along with Moonlit Sailor, Lights & Motion, and Dorena. Adam Tornblad and Oscar Gullbrandsen of Deep Elm's Moonlit Sailor have a side project called U137. They are yet another "cinematic post-rock" artist that the label has signed along with Moonlit Sailor, Lights & Motion, and Dorena. As a long time fan of Explosions In The Sky, I'm not complaining...though I do worry about over-saturation. The album, Dreamer On The Run is set to release on August 20th, 2013. Stay tuned to The Backstage Pass podcast as I'm sure I'll be featuring them soon. See the full press release  below: Deep Elm Records has signed cinematic post-rock duo U137 from Boras, Sweden. Neither member of U137 is exactly new to the Deep Elm family of fine artists. Both Adam Tornblad and Oscar Gullbrandsen are also members of post-rock foursome Moonlit Sailor, who have released three full-length albums on Deep Elm to rave reviews. Named after the Soviet submarine which ran aground in Swedish waters during the Cold War, Deep Elm will release the band's captivating 10 track instrumental debut Dreamer On The Run worldwide on August 20, 2013. "Oscar and I have been writing music since we were about twelve years old and we're still inspired to make music every single day. What inspires us is the thought of making THE perfect song, a timeless masterpiece of sorts. Dreamer is about as personal as an album gets. We wrote the music while living together directly after we had both ended long-term relationships. We shared the same vision about the album...to make our listeners feel inspired. Our goal was to create music as euphoric as possible. The album title refers to those of us who are 'on the run' from an ordinary, often boring, existence" says Adam Tornblad. "The music of U137 is quite complex despite the seeming simplicity of the songs themselves. From exquisite cinematic moments to poppy indie rock segments, the album offers a unique combination of sounds glowing with diversity and originality. It's the kind of album you listen to over and over again and find something new to savor each time you hear it. The beautiful melodies and the grand arrangements leave you with a feeling of pure euphoria. This is Scandinavian artistry at the highest level and we are delighted that U137 selected Deep Elm as their home" says label founder John Szuch. Recommended If You Like: Lights & Motion, Moonlit Sailor, Dorena, Sigur Ros, Explosions In The Sky, Coldplay, M83, Six Parts Seven Sean C. Duregger no http://www.thegeekcouch.com/2012/12/06/music-review-our-lost-infantry-the-new-art-history/ http://www.thegeekcouch.com/2012/12/06/music-review-our-lost-infantry-the-new-art-history/#comments Fri, 07 Dec 2012 06:25:36 +0000 http://www.thegeekcouch.com/podcast/?p=149 http://www.thegeekcouch.com/2012/12/06/music-review-our-lost-infantry-the-new-art-history/feed/ 0 Arcade Fire,Brand New,Explosions In The Sky,Grammatics,Joe Ashworth,Matt Phelps,Michael Parkin,Our Lost Infantry,She Bears,The New Art History,Thom Ashworth Artist: Our Lost Infantry Album: The New Art History Label: Deep Elm Records RIYL: Brand New, Arcade Fire, Explosions In The Sky, Grammatics, She Bears - The New Art History by Our Lost Infantry is a 36 minute musical movement in 9 parts. Artist: Our Lost Infantry Album: The New Art History Label: Deep Elm Records RIYL: Brand New, Arcade Fire, Explosions In The Sky, Grammatics, She Bears The New Art History by Our Lost Infantry is a 36 minute musical movement in 9 parts. Still with me? Most bands who try this sort of approach to an album usually come across as pretentious assholes. Anyone a fan of Mars Volta? If you are, hear me out before you string me up. These rock-opera type albums usually come across as forced, silly and pretentious to the average music listener but embraced by other musicians. What sets Our Lost Infantry apart is the seamless blend of artistic integrity with infectious hooks, soaring vocal melodies and rousing harmonies. Hailing from Aldershot, England the band locked themselves away for about six months writing this album. Emerging with a self-produced masterpiece, the band was signed to Deep Elm Records therefore unleashing The New Art History to discerning music aficionados worldwide. It’s a remarkable debut. During it’s brisk 36 minutes, The New Art History packs a punch and is surprisingly epic. Even though it is technically one 36 minute song, Our Lost Infantry has crafted 9 memorable movements. All related, yet all original. It’s a feat that not many bands can pull off successfully. The New Art History is one work of art that can be enjoyed in pieces, but also as a whole. The album is neither pretentious nor forgettable and is more sweeping and epic than one would think. Our Lost Infantry is Thom Ashworth on vocals, Joe Ashworth on bass, Matt Phelps on keys and Michael Parkin on drums. All contribute to the vocals during choruses and harmonies. The musicianship and vocals are so impeccable that I have added Our Lost Infantry to my “Must See Live” list, just to see if they can pull all this off live. If they can, I hope this band is filling arenas with their sounds in about 10 years. Our Lost Infantry has created one of the finest releases of 2012. It’s an album that can be embraced by the elite audiophiles to the average music lover. From start to finish, The New Art History is an epic journey wrapped in a brief 36 minutes. Each piece of the album can be enjoyed separately, however, I’d suggest starting at the beginning and let the album grab hold and envelope you. Sean C. Duregger no 8:55 http://www.thegeekcouch.com/2012/11/23/this-week-in-geekcouch-podcasts/ http://www.thegeekcouch.com/2012/11/23/this-week-in-geekcouch-podcasts/#comments Fri, 23 Nov 2012 07:07:49 +0000 http://www.thegeekcouch.com/?p=9721 http://www.thegeekcouch.com/2012/11/23/this-week-in-geekcouch-podcasts/feed/ 0 http://www.thegeekcouch.com/2012/11/21/music-review-dandelion-war-we-were-always-loyal-to-lost-causes/ http://www.thegeekcouch.com/2012/11/21/music-review-dandelion-war-we-were-always-loyal-to-lost-causes/#comments Wed, 21 Nov 2012 17:00:16 +0000 http://www.thegeekcouch.com/podcast/?p=126 http://www.thegeekcouch.com/2012/11/21/music-review-dandelion-war-we-were-always-loyal-to-lost-causes/feed/ 0 Antlers,Appleseed Cast,Dandelion War,Deep Elm Records,Explosions In The Sky,Moonlit Sailor,Sigur Rós,We Were Always Loyal To Lost Causes Artist: Dandelion War Album: We Were Always Loyal To Lost Causes Label: Deep Elm Records RIYL: Explosions In The Sky, Sigur Ros, Appleseed Cast, Moonlit Sailor, Antlers - It’s easy to get lost in the wasteland of post-rock, ambient, Artist: Dandelion War Album: We Were Always Loyal To Lost Causes Label: Deep Elm Records RIYL: Explosions In The Sky, Sigur Ros, Appleseed Cast, Moonlit Sailor, Antlers It’s easy to get lost in the wasteland of post-rock, ambient, shoegaze bands. They seem to have saturated the music scene in the past few years, I blame Explosions In The Sky and Friday Night Lights. While most of these bands are capable in creating lush, ambient landscapes, most of these sounds bleed from one band to another making it hard for anyone to stand out. Enter Oakland, California’s Dandelion War. While they are very much in the same vein of these bands, Dandelion War seem to take the best elements of this sound and craft them into something wholly their own. Their sophomore effort, We Were Always Loyal To Lost Causes is an exquisite barrage of ambient landscapes with Larry Fernández’ vocals floating over each meticulously crafted note. Larry’s vocals are a welcomed departure from the falsetto of bands like Sigur Ros and Radiohead, more like Chris Martin from Coldplay after some whiskey and cigarettes. Smothered in reverb, the vocals act as a part of this auditory painting and are never overpowering. We Were Always Loyal To Lost Causes isn’t an album that lends itself to cherry picking certain tracks. The 55 minute album is meant to be enjoyed as a whole. Therefore, judging this album track-by-track doesn’t do it any favors. Listening to Dandelion War you find yourself slowing down to enjoy each moment they have to offer. The album is best enjoyed on long drives, contemplative writing sessions, sipping brandy and smoking a pipe. Dandelion War rises above a genre that can get stale very quickly. While We Were Always Loyal To Lost Causes has it’s quiet and contemplative moments of beauty, but it can also crescendo into moments of melodic and meticulously crafted noise. Their blend of reverb-laden guitars, ghostly vocals and even electronic textures are very much welcomed in this sophomore effort. While We Were Always Loyal To Lost Causes should  catapult Dandelion War into our collective, artistic consciousness. Sean C. Duregger no 15:47