This one has been sitting in my inbox longer than reasonably explainable. Since mid August actually. Sorry Sky Squadron. In my defence I did download the tracks and they’ve been in my itunes library I’ve just you know, never listened to them or anything. It was when I saw them on the flyer for Phobiac‘s recent show that I thought it could finally be time to do this thing. I’m glad I did too because the four tracks these dudes have available are more interesting than most everything else in my inbox, that’s for certain. Muffled post-rock with vocals suspended like thousand foot condensation. I’m pretty sure it was recorded during a thick studio mist (rare but beautiful) before being mastered by Beef. It’s good to see the various meats entering the production game, I’ve been waiting on that for a while. Enjoy all four tracks below. ENJOY THEM.

I want to start this by raising the obvious question: What are you going to do when an asteroid strikes the earth sending us into that post-apocalyptic state of affairs that makes for great television but poor personal hygiene? It might be today, it might be tomorrow, heck, it might even be the day after. Ultimately I can’t tell you the when, I just want to empower you to think that little bit further ahead so that when it comes you’re ready. What I offer you is not a spaceshuttle nor a bunker, it’s not even a helmet. It’s a soundtrack. It won’t spare you but I’ll be damned if you won’t feel all sorts of cinematic as you stride through asteroid rain, looting shops and rejoicing in the enormous, the uplifting, the glorious Monsters Build Mean Robots.

I’m a hard sale for a band pitching slow-build post-rock so you know Monsters Build Mean Robots have done something right. Have a listen to the choral sections towards the end of ‘Psalm 57 (or) All That Gold Did Not Help Your Soul’. Make sure you’ve got a nice big pair of headphones on or some speakers with juice then crank that thing. These are the sort of tracks you need to listen to start to finish (ie. All music, you impatient nonce) so make sure you give them the chance to build and build and build. Buy the EP here.

Monsters Build Mean Robots – ‘Psalm 57 (Or) All That Gold Did Not Help Your Soul’

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Monsters Build Mean Robots – ‘Song for the Generals’

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I’m completely getting behind the new track from Parades. If you haven’t already heard of them (which I find hard to believe) they’re Jono Boulet‘s other band. That’s unfair though, because they’re more than that. They’re probably (definitely) the best upbeat post-rock Australia has to offer.

Their first 2008 and 2009 demos got a little attention but it was their cracking live show that brought them to the fore. Then they dropped their debut full length Foreign Tapes to general applause. Now you’re up to speed. Last week they gave up the firstfruits of their sophomore release as a free download to those who sign up to their mailing list here. It’s pretty clear that they’ve become a whole lot more refined over the past few years.

Parades – Water Stories

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Parades – Hunters (from their 2009 Demo)

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Sydneysiders, they’re playing April 8 at the Gaelic. I promise you won’t regret attending.

Open wide your mind and appreciate Sydney based Solkyri. They write instrumental post-rock tracks that are well… they’re pretty rad. They’ve been around for about 5 years (someone correct me if I’m wrong) and they’ve paid their dues to the Sydney scene unlike many of the recent upstart fauxk artists that are falling upon us like a steady drizzle. It’s hard for me to get behind an artist that writes a few demos, gets picked up by a major then drops a debut EP. I’m looking at you Georgia Fair. Also, while we’re here, has anyone noticed a steady decline into cynicism on this blog over the past few months? I’m not sure who to blame for that. Let’s point the figure at musicians. Intertwined with that cynicism is a refusal to take responsibility for my actions. Wow. The vibe is getting weird in here. I’m out.

Solkyri – This Can’t Wait!

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Download ‘This Can’t Wait!’ for free at their bandcamp. Better still, get the whole record. It’s “pretty cool”.

This post is about three things and all three of those things are Valar. There are two sub categories however, and those are the incredible yet two month old live recording they did of a never-before-heard track called ‘Uptight’ and the dramatic price drop of their debut EP. I’ll keep this short.

The song/video rules. The EP is now THREE DOLLARS. That’s a pittance. If you’ve been sitting on their bandcamp streaming their album, never dipping into your pockets for the necessary five dollars then now’s your chance to redeem your honour. That’s a two dollar coin and a one dollar coin. Mathematics. I know. Finance aside it was one of the very best EP’s released last year. Rawkblog certainly thought so.

Smash this into your eyes.

While I have your attention, here’s another new track that James played without the aid of the rest of the band during his particularly short American tour.

Matt Davis, you’re welcome.