Cool Hunting
by Mat Lyon
Maths Class are the latest U.K. band exploring the intersection where Post-Rock, New Wave, Pop and (yes) Math Rock collide. From the shards of this genre car crash, they form a compelling racket that's chaotic and precise in equal measure, jerking between passages at super speed and challenging the listener to keep up. They walk a tightrope of technical ability, creative endeavor and melodic accessibility that makes for an exhilarating sonic tangle.
Their frenetic creativity also extends to their visual aesthetic. The band's photographs reference Dada cut-ups, presenting the band as a mangled mass of enlarged facial features; posters and artwork show the band's name spelled out in slashes of twisted material.
They are miles ahead of the current crop of Foals copyists, and they're carving out a live reputation to match their striking aural and visual identity. This is one Maths Class you'll be fighting to be at the front of. You can watch the video for their song "Nerves" above.
|
previous entry Spray-On Condom |
next entry Days With My Father by Phil Toledano |
Likely due to their home state, name and penchant for upbeat chord progressions, Florida's Holiday Shores draw comparisons to a slew of feel-good bands like Wavves, Beach Fossils and the Beach Boys, to name a few. But writing them off as surfer-dude tunes misses the mark. The band wisely tempers sunny melodies with a healthy dissonant sheen, such that each carefully-crafted pop melody comes...
As summer hanging makes way for classes and meetings, the changing season calls for a soundtrack of syncopated digital beats and rock 'n' roll jams for setting a productive mood. Of course, fall wouldn't be fall without shedding a small tear for the parties that had to end, romances that seem frivolous in fall and trees losing their leaves, which all feels most satisfyingly...
This collection of tracks (click here to launch a player) represents a selection of our favorite new jams and a few classics, all inspired by the warm days of summer and activities like beach trips and rooftop parties. When we all started listening compulsively (the crowd-pleasing soundtrack played at my own Memorial Day BBQ), we knew we had a winner on our hands. —Ami...
Minneapolis is usually know for being cold, but as the music scene there intensifies, it's beginning to be known for stellar indie bands like Solid Gold. We can't stop listening to the cheeky synth-pop trio and their most recent album, "Bodies of Water." The repeat-worthy tracks are sharp but full of smooth, ethereal melodies that float around and consume your head. The name Solid...
The bond between brothers can be a tumultuous one, but the musical fruits are plentiful. Just ask the Kinks' Davies brothers, the Greenwoods of Radiohead or the National, who can claim two sets of brothers. This grand tradition extends to Brooklyn-via-Jersey siblings Edward and Jeff Nazareno, who perform under the moniker pow wow! The two have been playing music independently for more than 11...
Well schooled in the fuzzed-out guitars and ambient vocals of the shoegaze canon, Gliss brings a wall-of-sound approach to their dark pop compositions. In the two years since their more somber and mopey debut, Gliss is back with "Devotion Implosion." On the record, the Los Angeles triumvirate evoke the best elements of My Bloody Valentine and the Jesus and Mary Chain, displaying anthemic qualities...
