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(09/02/10 3:19am)
No Room For The Weak, a four-song EP from the Italian trio Father Murphy, is an ironic title. On an album whose pace feels like a dead pulse, the weakness is glaring.
Father Murphy boasts a brand of doom-and-gloom rock that’s powered by sparse electric guitars, swirling feedback and droning vocals.
(08/26/10 4:16am)
Although it has a suggestively cold and lonesome title, Lost In The Trees’ reissued sophomore release, “All Alone in an Empty House”, is anything but stark.
(04/22/10 2:30am)
It’s an old adage that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, and the same often holds true for bands. That couldn’t be more correct for Graveyard Fields. While its name may hint at the macabre, the band itself is defined by a zest for life. It comes across in their lush, atmospheric pop improved by their close bond. “I feel the core of our group is really based on a strong friendship and tie,” keyboardist Brian Risk said.The group owes a debt to Carrboro’s music venue Cat’s Cradle. Risk has worked there since 2001, and it is where he met vocalist Andrea Connolly and guitarist Jonathan Durlam. They added Connolly’s husband, Pete — Andrea’s partner in local duo Birds and Arrows — along with Jonathan’s wife, Carol Bales. Cat’s Cradle also gave Risk the chance to reconnect with cellist Josh Starmer, with whom he went to high school.
(04/15/10 5:02am)
From the crash of drums and furious guitar that open “Matching Scars,” Free Electric State lays forth a manifesto of tough rock anthems with textured melodies and pounding rhythms that drive you through without any filler.
(04/08/10 3:05am)
MGMT’s Congratulations is a follow-up to its breakthrough Oracular Spectacular only in the sense that its release date follows its predecessor. The two albums are nothing alike. There aren’t any radio or single-friendly songs that immediately jump out from Congratulations’ track list. The duo’s trademark electronic funk-rock is there, but dialed up to hyper-speed with a heavy order of synths and keys. The MGMT you came to know is gone, and if you can get past the shock, you should find a lot to like in the band’s latest manifestation.
(03/25/10 3:25am)
For those not already in the know, it’s almost impossible to hear about Drughorse Collective, Chapel Hill’s loose organization of similarly lo-fi minded musicians, and not at least briefly think of Animal Collective. It’s a shame, because the similarities are few and far between.This EP features three Drughorse acts: Max Indian, The Light Pines, and Ryan Gustafson, each given two songs. You’d never know it was three separate bands, however, and that’s what makes Drughorse One so remarkable — its cohesiveness.
(03/18/10 2:33am)
The summer of 2009 was dubbed the summer of “chillwave” by many music critics and bloggers. Artists like Neon Indian, Washed Out and Memory Tapes all released synth-heavy, lo-fi atmospheric albums. Then Toro Y Moi released his debut album Causers of This, and try as some might to lump him in with the fledgling chillwave genre, it’s clear that Toro y Moi has his own plan. Diversions Staff Writer Anna Norris talked with the man behind the band, Columbia, S.C. native Chaz Bundick, about his musical compositions, the creative process and his upcoming projects.Diversions: On Causers of This, you have very airy and clear compositions, but most of the lyrics are depressing yet wistful. Was that on purpose or was that just by accident?
(03/04/10 3:55am)
Don’t let Lost Souls Like Us trick you into thinking you’re about to listen to a deep, revelation-filled composition. The title of the album is the only really arresting thing about it.Davis’s music is infused with toxic simplicity, his poison of choice being wistful songs that reflect on personal faults, failed relationships and good times past. The combinations of slide guitar and catchy hooks land Davis somewhere between mainstream country and pop, a combination that’s accessible to just about everyone but nothing incredibly innovative. Unfortunately, Davis has sacrificed originality for the sake of this accessibility. His love troubles are nothing you haven’t heard before, and all the songs seem to ride on big guitar chords and drums, with little room for intricacy or surprise.
(02/11/10 4:48am)
Dive Verdict: 4 of 5 Stars
(02/04/10 4:30am)
Dive Verdict: 4 of 5 Stars
(01/28/10 4:25am)
Dive verdict: 3 of 5 stars
(01/21/10 5:13am)
Dive verdict: 2.5 of 5 stars
(12/03/09 4:52am)
CFCFContinentElectronicThe title is a little off. Rather than just one continent, CFCF mastermind Michael Silver has created a set of songs with such a distinct story and atmosphere, it’s more appropriate to say he’s given us a world’s worth of thoughts and emotions.Using synthesizers, strong percussion and piano as the building blocks for his songs, CFCF excels at hooking you within the first few beats. “Snake Charmer” starts off with quivering Middle Eastern notes that turn into a pattern of looping synthesizers. The heavy percussion of “You Hear Colors” almost makes you believe you are in for a dance track with a military-style drum beat before it fades into the background to let looping piano and synthesizers take over.With almost no vocals, Silver relies on a vibrant and lush atmosphere. Standout tracks include “Letters Home,” which feels appropriately exotic and enticing and “Raining Patterns,” a synth-focused song that channels water with its shimmering tones and tumbling scales. Nothing feels rushed, and everything is deliberately crafted, making it easy to catch the mood. But at times, this album can be a an exercise in patience. Almost all of the songs on the album are five minutes or longer, and each forms its own distinct melodic patterns that rise and fall in intensity throughout the song yet never really change. The formula makes it easily accessible for casual electronic listeners — in fact it’s not hard to imagine it on future heavy rotation at Starbucks.And while some might find themselves zoning out, wishing for a little more stimulation, Continent is an enjoyable album for anyone looking to take an emotional and atmospheric journey out of the norm.
(11/05/09 6:20am)