Hood - The Lost You (Domino, 2004)

Glitch-y, Shoegaze-y, Post-Rock-y delights.

Definitely one of the most under-rated bands of recent times, Hood seemed to combine disparate influences - Post-Rock, Shoegaze, glitchy techno, ambience, leftfield sound collage and found recordings - into a thrilling soundscape.

Their best work runs along a similar line to Bark Psychosis and Disco Inferno where conventional instruments are merged with effects and entwined with samples and atmosphere. The likes of Trophy Wife are trading in a similar sound to the mighty, but now disbanded, Hood.

'The Lost You' kicks of with some glitched up beats, delivering a driving, staccato groove. A pale, translucent vocal comes in and the track builds up a clattering momentum before dubbing out into an extended break with delicious tones and piano, the treble whacked-out like on one of those Filter Disco tracks from the 90s. The vocal comes back and the tracks explodes in all directions, refracting sound like a post-rock mirrorball. 

Download Hood 'The Lost You' (post-rock, glitch, mp3) (Divshare)

Trans Am - Outmoder (Thrill Jockey, 2004)

Angular, moody post-rock instrumental.

'Outmoder' is a taut slice of instrumental post-rock soundtracking. It sounds like an American TV theme tune. It would be perfect for something like CSI:Galapagos where a robot tortoise in Ray Bans leads a crime lab inundated with cases of death caused by stray military hardware.

It begins with the sound of a helicopter taking off before a martial drum comes in along with a clipped, distorted bass riff. The guitar is choppy and restrained, cutting loose in the wordless chorus.

Download Trans Am 'Outmoder' (post-rock, mp3) (Divshare)

Air - Alone In Kyoto (Source, 2004)

Gorgeous Satie-esque minimalism.

'Moon Safari' is fun and fresh but, for my money, 'Talkie Walkie' is Air's premier album.

A subtle, haunting record, for the most part it whispers gently in your ear and wends its way to the closing track 'Alone In Kyoto'.

'Alone In Kyoto' is a strung-out but beautiful instrumental built around a simple tone pattern and augmented with accordian, guitar and washes of sound. The chorus builds a tension over stately piano and chirrups.

The track also featured on the 'Lost In Translation' soundtrack and conjures up that film's sense of dislocation and wistfulness perfectly.

Download Air 'Alone In Kyoto' (Lost In Translation, Eric Satie, mp3) (Divshare)

Red Sparrowes - Alone And Unaware, The Landscape Was Transformed In Front Of Our Eyes (Neurot, 2004)

Epic, postrock dynamism.

The title kind of gives the game away in that this is an Explosions In The Sky type slice of epic, unfolding postrock mastery. But, oh my, does it work, ebbing and flowing in waves of sweet then tangy guitar abuse and widescreen, expansive drumming.

Download Red Sparrowes - Alone And Unaware, The Landscape Was Transformed In Front Of Our Eyes (Post Rock mp3) (Divshare)

Pixies 'Gouge Away' (Live, NYC, December 2004)

Brooding, controlled malevolence from the first round of comeback shows.

Building, building, building from understated threat to hollering rage. Kim Deal adding the sweet trills and rolling bass that made the Breeders rock.

Quite a good band.

Download Pixies 'Gouge Away' (Live, NYC, December 2004) (alternative rock mp3 download) (Mediafire)

Stereolab 'University Microfilms International' (Duophonic Tour CD, 2004)

Slippery piece of kitsch indie supermarket music. In a good way.

It feels good to post about one of the most singular bands of the 1990s indie alternative music scene. Stereolab were very definitely singular in the sense that it often seemed like they were a one-trick pony. But, oh my, what a trick it was.

The early coloured vinyl seven inches from the band that formed out of the ashes of the angstily great indie heroes McCarthy were highly collectable mail-order only pieces and they made me very happy. As their career unfurled, they became more laid-back and this a stellar piece of plasticine-boned Broadcast or Plone-like library music. It sounds like the soundtrack for an information film advertising The Kitchen Of The Future from the perspective of a housewife in 1974.

Don't think that's what the lyrics are about though.

Download Stereolab 'University Microfilms International' (indie, postrock mp3 download) (Mediafire)

Triosk 'Two; Twelve' (The Leaf Label, 2004)

Intense and organic hybrid of post-rock, jazz and glitchy looping.

Triosk were an Australian jazz trio who blended post-rock grooves and electronic loops and glitches into their mellifluous, flowing pieces. They incorporated the sound of Tortoise's lock-groove wonder with controlled intensity, dynamics and improvisatory nous of The Necks. They evolved into Pivot (later shortened to Pvt) who have released a couple of albums on Warp.

'Two; Twelve' is a teasing, languid jam that grows in intensity across some expansive, jazzy drumming. There some Tortoise-y vibes and some rich, dark brown double bass action. Little touches of glitch and squiggle rough up the smooth edges, making the sound akin to Miles Davis' fusion band somehow jamming with Autechre at the Isle of Wight in 1970. Under sedation.

Magical. Triosk's two albums on The Leaf Label are highly recommended.

Download Triosk 'Two; Twelve' (jazz, post rock, electronica mp3) (Mediafire)

Explosions In The Sky 'First Breath After Coma' (Live, 2004)

Breathless, euphoric instrumental post rock business from Explosions In The Sky.

A piercing, repetitive single-note reveille introduces Explosions In The Sky's signature tune. It builds from there, matching melodic loveliness with blasting sonic power, conjuring up images of the fireworks of their name.

Download Explosions In The Sky 'First Breath After Coma (Live, 2004)' (instrumental, post rock, live, mp3) (Mediafire)

Download the whole Explosions In The Sky live set from Nottingham Rescue Rooms, 02/09/2004 over on Archive:Live+Rare

Sufjan Stevens 'Borderline' (2004) (mp3)

The enigmatic, indie god Sufjan Stevens weaves a gentle spell on this track given away with Comes With A Smile magazine in 2004.

Not a cover of the Madonna song but a gossamer-gentle acoustic lament with wisps of mellotron-sounding keyboard and a "it feels like I'm going to lose my mind" refrain at the close.

Very, very beautiful.

Download Sufjan Stevens 'Borderline' (mp3) (Mediafire)

Papa M 'Unquiet Grave (Live)' (2004)

Live version of the 'Whatever, Mortal' track from a 'Comes With A Smile' CD.

It's Papa M in Bonnie 'Prince' Billy/Palace Brothers banjo Gothic mode rather than moody avant soundscapes from the former Slint man.

Download Papa M 'Unquiet Grave (Live)' (mp3) (Mediafire)

Naciente Quartet 'One Two Three Four' (2004) (mp3)

Naciente Quartet were a South London outfit based within the Utrophia art-music collective in Greenwich.

I managed to see them live on one spectacular occasion at 93 Feet East and also picked up a couple of their self-produced EPs. Alas, though, I think they are now no more with no activity to speak of for a couple of years.

'One Two Three Four' showcases their blend of thoughtful post-rock with elements of jazz, systems music and some gorgeous playing. It canters along on some solid but expressive drumming and a sweet flow of bass.

Expressive guitar work is entwined creating an evolving, moody instrumental upon which subtle Tortoise vibraphone is added and bright, almost hi-life, lead guitar can radiate without being showy.

A great lost band and definitely worth fans of Fridge, the more thoughtful, intricate side of Foals and Tortoise checking their shit out.

Download Naciente Quartet 'One Two Three Four' (mp3) (Mediafire)

More tracks available on the Naciente Quartet Myspace page (remember Myspace?)

Beck 'Everybody's Gotta Learn Some Time' (Hollywood Records, 2004) (mp3)

Indulgently soporific version of The Korgi's melancholy hit.

It skulks in on a dirgey, cheap organ sound. It's just that and Beck's cracked voice until bass and guitar join for the chorus. A sun-breaks-through string part lightens the mood before a slow-motion drum pattern comes in for the second verse.

The instrumental break adds an AOR fuzz guitar solo for good measure and the song drifts to a close seemingly on endless loop.

Nice.

Download Beck 'Everybody's Gotta Learn Some Time' (mp3) (Mediafire)

Klang 'No Sound Is Heard' / 'Waiting' (Blast First Petite, 2004) (mp3)

Two tracks from a very good album that seemed to slip out unnoticed a few years ago. Klang was formed around the songwriting of ex-Elastica guitarist Donna Matthews and these are a couple of tasty mp3s.

'No Sound Is Heard' features intricate weaving of bass and two guitars, creating an enticing pattern for Donna Matthews to sit a short and simple vocal onto. The bass pulses and drums enter half way through creating a gentle momentum. Short and sweet at just 85 seconds but a great starter for the sole album Klang released.

Next up is 'Waiting' which is more muscular, a gently motorik groove is augmented by guitars that are by turns chirruping and klanking. The vocal is crystalline and the track worms its way into your brain with a combination of sweet melody and krautrock stylings.

Download Klang 'No Sound Is Heard' (mp3) (Mediafire)

Download Klang 'Waiting' (mp3) (Mediafire)

The Album Leaf 'Always For You' (City Slang/Sub Pop, 2004)

Chirrupping sequencer lines intro the track, overlaid by a chunky, airy drum pattern and a low, buzzing sub-bass. It's fair to say that the Album Leaf deal in a rather sweet hybrid of organic and inorganic sounds.

The gorgeous dynamic of the track is set by the poised electric piano with a lovely sober vocal, full of longing and hopefulness.

The Album Leaf is the nom-de-post-rock-pop of Jimmy LaValle and he has released a string of very lovely, elegantly arranged gems. The album this track is from - 'In A Safe Place' - a particular favourite.

Download The Album Leaf 'Always For You' (mp3) (Subpop.com)