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POST ROCK/MATH ROCK
A Progressive Rock Sub-genre
From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website
Post Rock/Math rock definition
POST-ROCK:The term post-rock was coined by Simon Reynolds in issue 123 of The Wire (May 1994) to describe a sort of music "using rock instrumentation for non-rock purposes, using guitars as facilitators of timbres and textures rather than riffs and powerchords."
Originally used to describe the music of such bands as Stereolab, Disco Inferno, Seefeel, Bark Psychosis and Pram, it spread out to be frequently used for all sorts of jazz- and Krautrock-influenced, instrumental, electronica-added music made after 1994. Bands from the early 1990s such as Slint, or earlier, such as Talk Talk were influential on this genre. As with many musical genres, the term is arguably inadequate: it is used for the music of Tortoise as well as that of Mogwai, two bands who have very little in common besides the fact that their music is largely instrumental.
The aforementioned Tortoise was among the founders of the movement. After the second Tortoise LP Millions Now Living Will Never Die, the band became a post-rock icon. After Millions... many bands (e.g., Do Make Say Think) began to record, inspired by the "Tortoise-sound" and were often described as post-rock.
In the late nineties, Chicago, Illinois, became the home base of many different groups. John McEntire (of Tortoise) became an important producer for lots of them, as well as Jim O'Rourke (of Brice-Glace, Gastr del Sol and many more). Post-rock began to range from the slow, guitar-based ambience of Boxhead Ensemble to the up-tempo electronica of Stereolab.
Montreal, Quebec band Godspeed You Black Emperor! - later renamed 'Godspeed You! Black Emperor' - brought a political element with anti-globalization movement leanings.
By the early 2000s, the term had started to fall out of favor, while the major artists kept on making high quality recordings. The wide range of styles covered by the term had robbed it of its usefulness almost from the moment it was coined.
Closely related to post-rock is the genre known as Math rock, characterized by more percussive timbres, and more dissonant harmonic gestures.
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Post-rock".
MATH ROCK:
Math Rock is a genre that emerged in the late 80's and that was influenced by both the intricacies of progressive and avant-garde rock - King Crimson, Frank Zappa, Henry Cow - and 20th century composers such as Steve Reich and John Cage. The music is characterized by complex structures, angular melodies and constant abrupt changes in tempo and time signature. The name Math Rock is a term that grew out of the Chicago scene and the artists working with engineer Steve Albini in an effort to describe the new style.
The basic building blocks of Math Rock can be traced back to the late 60's and 70's where Progressive Rock artists were making more elaborate compositions than the standard rock bands and were experimenting with song structures. Early Avant-garde groups like Massacre, and artists such as Captain Beefheart and John Zorn were highly influential to Math Rock bands and traces of their music can still be heard throughout the genre. Another big influence to the Math Rock approach was Slint with their album "Spiderland" which showcased many techniques that Math Rock bands will follow in the future. Punk also had significant impact on the sound of Math Rock bands. Other notable influences are: Post-Rock, Heavy Metal, and Jazz.
Although there are Math Rock bands in different countries around the world, most reside in the United States, the Midwest in particular, and tend to be divided by regions: Pittsburgh bands (Don Caballero, Six Horse) Chicago bands (Shellac, U.S. Maple), Ohio bands (Keelhaul, Craw) Louisville bands (June 44, Rodan, The For Carnation, Crain), and San Diego bands (Drive Like Jehu, Tristeza) among others on both coasts. Japan was also an important country in the Math Rock genre with bands like Ruins and Zeni Geva.
Post Rock/Math rock Top Albums
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Post Rock/Math rock overlooked and obscure gems albums
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REVERIEDaturah |
I AM YOUR BASTARD WINGSEksi Ekso |
JINX Kammerflimmer Kollektief |
ACTUAL MUSIC QUARTET RSMActual Music Quartet RSM |
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Latest Post Rock/Math rock Music Reviews
Russian Circles Post Rock/Math rock
Review by
snobb
Special Collaborator Jazz Rock/Fusion
Debut band's EP is good enough for debut and contains all useful style's attributes:
energetic melodic (and often aggressive) guitar sound, some repetitive musical structures
and even metal drive. As characteristic for US post-rock bands, they play heavier and much
more energetic music, then their European (Nordic?) colleagues. So, music has less
nuances, but is much more rock. Usual problem is the same as with many similar bands - instrumental only compositions too often are not enough attractive to be listened one after another for a long. Happily, it just 4- song EP. so you have here enough music to imagine what Russian Circles are, and not too much to be boring.
In all, not a bad debut by average American post-rock band.
Antarctic Post Rock/Math rock
Review by
snobb
Special Collaborator Jazz Rock/Fusion
Strong debut of American post-rock band. Even being full instrumental work, album is
different enough to be listened without the risk to be bored."Arrowhead Wounds" is guitar driven rock song with almost metal energetic. "Your Ships Are Googlin' Pretty Hard" is strongly influenced by melodic brit-pop, but is heavy and rocks!"Bergen" is most atmospheric composition with some Nordic post-rock sound.
"Hey Kids" is short, opened by some sound effects, but very soon become guitar driven bridge to "Paseo la Salamandria" - maybe most memorable album composition. Lighter, with interesting drumming, and some rhythm breaks.
For sure, still debut, not mature work, the album contains some interesting music. Could become a good start for the band.
September Malevolence Post Rock/Math rock
Review by
snobb
Special Collaborator Jazz Rock/Fusion
One more post-rock band from Scandinavia. You will hear here some standard sounds
you're expecting from them. The music is a bit dreamy, a bit airy, partially acoustic, slightly
melodic. Mid-tempo, for sure. Almost instrumental as well. With few heavy guitar riffs (no too
much, don't worry). So, generally, almost your average Nordic post-rock band, when often the
name of the band is not too important - the music is so simple and so similar, you don't care
about band's name too much.But there is some difference - the music is extremely low-fi, simple and primitive. The only possible connection with any form of progressive music is some long compositions. But whenever they are very repetitive and level of musicianship is extremely low, it's difficult to think that band's musical minimalism is just experimental musical form. I afraid, it is just only possible form they could play.
Whenever compositions are not too different between each other, you generally can think that you're listening just one long lazy song. It is popular opinion, that at its time new-age became most popular music for elevators. Possibly, then some post-rock bands will make them a big competition now.
Can't imagine who could be attracted by this work - possibly just heavy collector of all existent post-rock albums.
For A Minor Reflection Post Rock/Math rock
Review by
snobb
Special Collaborator Jazz Rock/Fusion
Debut album of this Icelandic band opens with short ambient composition
("Silence") full of Nordic air. Next five album songs are almost 10 minutes long each (and
often longer), all simple clear melodies. With characteristic Sigur Ros influence, band plays
less subtle and psychedelic music, with stronger rock component."Beautiful View" is even more acoustic, with minimalistic drums and simple, but nice northern melody, played by guitar again. Step by step album bring you to the world of natural Nordic nature, without tension, rush, nervous breakdowns..... Slow,simple, minimalistic and natural. And not boring.
As usual with many instrumental post-rock bands, this album has limited attraction for listeners outside of post-rock fans circles. For style fans - not bad work, especially for soft Nordic sound lovers.
Dorena Post Rock/Math rock
Review by
snobb
Special Collaborator Jazz Rock/Fusion
Debut album of this Swedish band contains usual Nordic post-rock. Beautiful
slow/mid tempo instrumental compositions with acoustic strings and very airy atmosphere
can attract Sigur Ros sound lovers. Not too dreamy or psychedelic, the band has some
heavier rock elements in their music as well.Music is as often minimalistic, but not too boring and good balanced. The band doesn't explore too much experimental side, but concentrates more on accessible ,but competent sound. With some electronic/ambient sounds influenced by Nordic nu.jazz included in their songs, this album covers a wider territory than just one more average post-rock band.
Good listening for Nordic post-rock fans.
Pertego Post Rock/Math rock
Review by
snobb
Special Collaborator Jazz Rock/Fusion
Debut Pertego EP is different music (from usual post-rock). The reason is very
understandable. It is Italian band. So it is very logic to expect their own form of post-rock - kind
of post-RPI. And in some sense you will find it here.Starting from very first song, you will hear much more melodic sound and deeper harmonies than you can expect from regular post-rock band. Slow, dreamy music with some angular rhythm (according to post-rock concept) is mixed with deep roots of PRI (or classic music). Angelic female vocals could be similar with such from Nordic bands, but has much warmer moments. All album's music - as well. Arrangements, rich in strings, build symphonic atmosphere too.
As I understand, this young band play music for theatres and visual installations. I believe it is a best way to listen , because just music itself is not rich enough to be listened for a long. But with live play (or used as soundtrack) , it could be a really nice listening.
If not great, at least different "warmer" kind of post rock. Little better then myriads of competitors.
Sigur Ros Post Rock/Math rock
Review by Neurotarkus
As I said in my Agaetis Byrjun review, Sigur Ros can be extremely good at times, and not so much at
others. This comes out in full force on ( ), hereby known as Brackets. The first half, the "happy"
songs, are extremely good, utilizing piano and Jonsi's excellent falsetto that emits Hopelandic
vocals to very good use, creating atmospheres of peace, contentedness, joy, and nostalgia- these
songs remind me of carefree childhood years, from the perspective of an older person- remembering
how the days were loose and pressure minimal, compared to the hard, fast modern life that older
people are expected to live. However, the second half, the "sad" songs, are a bit dodgier, and
longer. They're not bad, and at the right time, they can be pretty powerful, but they can't hold a
candle to the brilliantly made first half. I'm grappling with the issue of how many stars to give
it- I think that this record deserves more than two stars, so a three star rating, albeit a
relatively weak one, seems to be in order.
Godspeed You! Black Emperor Post Rock/Math rock
Review by Neurotarkus
This record is the soundtrack of the apocalypse. It's gonna take a few listens to sink in, but once
it does, you will probably find it to be a truly great album, each of the three long songs being
connected in misery and darkness. The feeling I get from F#A# Infinity is a city of people watching
a nuke crashing into them, each second before their vaporization being lengthened in their minds, as
mothers hold their children, lovers find solace in each others arms, and people think of what life
is, what it could have been, and what it has become. It's a sad, depressing album, not for everyday
listening, but when the time is right, it can be a thing to behold. Of course, GYBE is not for
everyone, and some will find this dull and overrated, even after a few good listens, and that's
fine, everyone has different tastes, and people are bound to think differently than you on certain
things. Four stars seems right, though this is something you should really take a test run of first.
Sleeping People Post Rock/Math rock
Review by
snobb
Special Collaborator Jazz Rock/Fusion
US math rock band with heavy energy and Fripp-influenced guitars leading their
music to unusual for post rock bands drive and tension. Complex and angular compositions
and female lead guitarist excellent technique both can attract many instrumental rock lovers.General musical structures are characteristic for math rock loops-like and cool calculated, but heavy rock energetic and complex musicianship still save this work from being repetitive or boring. Comparing with their debut, this second album is really better played and finished and contains much more mature music.
One of the style most rock-fuelled albums I ever listened. I am not sure how attractive could it be for math/post rock newcomers ( I always recommend very different from US-sound Sigur Ros early albums as the best introduction), but from another hand it can be really interesting for those searching on different instrumental prog-rock with high energy.
Really 3,5.
Auto!Automatic!! Post Rock/Math rock
Review by
snobb
Special Collaborator Jazz Rock/Fusion
This only album from US band A!A!! is interesting because it is different. I mean
different from what you are usually expecting from albums under Post Rock/Math Rock label. First of all, there are not only complexity and cold demonstration of perfectly calculated abilities of band members, but more accent on some melodic and warmer ( in the border's of genre's rules) sound. Plenty of influences from electro-pop bands (from 80-s), but cleaned from pop-component. Possibly because of this legacy sound is a bit simplified and vintage- like.
Again, whenever quite interesting music for researchers or heavy style fans, it doesn't looks that similar works could attract bigger amount of fans. More raw material for some future music, than final value, I think.
Post Rock/Math rock bands/artists list
Post Rock/Math rock Specialists
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Atavachron (David)
Art Rock Specialist
Joined date: 9/30/2006 | Posts: 26451 | Last visit: 2/9/2010 3:32:13 AM EST
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Chris H (Chris H)
Math Rock Team
Joined date: 10/8/2006 | Posts: 7784 | Last visit: 2/3/2010 10:48:31 PM EST
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Dim (Ian Bishop)
Post Rock Team
Joined date: 4/17/2007 | Posts: 6871 | Last visit: 2/9/2010 2:20:50 PM EST
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burritounit (Sebastian Kelso)
Post Rock and Progressive Metal Teams
Joined date: 9/18/2007 | Posts: 2551 | Last visit: 2/7/2010 6:32:59 PM EST
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