Free Download: Enemies - We've Been Talking

If there's such a thing as Tropical Math then Enemies's We've Been Talking definitely fits that bill. Upbeat with a fair amount of technical playfulness, you won't find many better debuts this year.



Think Brontide on their summer vacation at a pool party in the Carribean and you've got Enemies. Consistent but not repetitive, technical and fun... Enemies's debut album are those things, and more. This becomes all the more incredible as they've recently just decided to make this album available to download for free (on Bandcamp) until Tuesday evening (2nd August 2011) to celebrate getting 2,000 'likes' on their Facebook page.

Will they follow in the footsteps of their Irish brethrens The Cast Of Cheers, who released their debut album for free and has gone on to much bigger things (for example, supporting Two Door Cinema Club at Brixton Academy)? I don't know for it sure, but they don't, it will be a massive shame.

Review: Conquistadors - On Tape EP

Conquistadors (or Conks as they are affectionately known) – their third EP ‘On Tape’ is a pigeonhole-dodging, incredibly versatile record that aims to play with your expectations of genre conventions. The most specific term I can think of without being too narrow is melodic post-punk, but even that label falls short in describing Conquistadors sound in ‘On Tape’. 


The intro track is pretty much just a preview of songs so we’ll start with the second track ‘Black Swan’. In the songs first half it seems like we are treated to a brilliant mix of math pop and melodic punk, but then in the second half it excellently charges head first into Blakfish territory. ‘Homework’, with its pop melodies and wonderful harmonies, typify Conquistadors fearless, genre-surfing philosophy. 

Read the rest of this review and links to buy it on Musical Mathematics.This review also appears on zine issue #2, which you can buy HERE. 

Musical Mathematics: Review // EDiLS Recordings - Bear Left

My review of EDiLS Recordings's free compilation, Bear Left, is up now on Musical Mathematics.

The DIY Liverpool label, EDiLS Recordings, has come out with its second free compilation titled Bear Left. The diverse collection consists of 12 bands from 4 countries (England, USA, Finland, Sweden), many of whom go under the label post-rock.

The End Of The Ocean’s (Ohio, USA) ‘Maybe For The Better’ combines the apocalyptic gravity of Talons with the startling fierceness of …And So I Watch You From Afar, providing a deeply satisfying vista of events that’s both optimistic and mournful. Cool World’s ‘Only Fooling’ is a toe-tapping indie pop tune from Wisconsin, USA, which will be your summertime indie-pop anthem of choice, even if the weather’s shit and you’re forced to stay in all week.

Third track ‘Dime & Suture’ from Gifts From Enola is riff-heavy post-rock imported from Virginia, USA, with faint but audible, muffled screams providing an eerie, pained undertone that takes it up a notch above many of their more straight-forward brethrens. Liverpudlian alt country duo, Go Heeled, fuses the quirkier side of pop and the dancier side of indie to come up with this gem of a song titled ‘Hugs & Misses.’

To read the rest of the review and download the whole compilation, go to Musical Mathematics.

Free Download: Musical Mathematics - Second Time Lucky

Musical Mathematics has released their second compilation today and it is available to download for free. You can check out the description of each song to see if they're what you fancy and listen to individual songs by clicking on their titles. You can also download the whole digital compilation and get the bonus track 'Shed' by Title Fight from the Bandcamp.

Tracklisting: 

1. Enemies - Coco et Moi

Richter Collective, IRL. Math rock/Post-rock/Tropical.

Upbeat Math-y instrumentals perfectly paced to tug your heartstrings from the Irish four-piece outfit 

http://www.facebook.com/enemiesenemies

2. The Clippers - Boku & Chevre

Topshelf Records, Boston USA. Pop/Rock, Power/Indie. 

Fast paced powerfully addictive summer jams from a brilliant two-man music team. 

www.theclippers.muxtape.com

3. Conquistadors - Oh Luxemburg

Godmonkey Recording, UK. Alternative/Progressive. 

Four friends from Birmingham making music without boundaries. Eclectic tastes and an unstructured style make for high-energy filled catchy songs. 

www.conksmusic.co.uk

4. Grown Ups - Pears

Topshelf Records/Doghouse Records, US. Pop Punk/Punk/Post Hardcore. 

Chicago based rockers Grown Ups create a unique blend of Melodic Punk with passion and precision with a fierce Post-Hardcore edge.  

www.ihategrownups.tumblr.com

5. Hymns - Idyllic In Nature Horrendous In Habit

Big Scary Monsters/Function, UK. Post-Hardcore/Rock. 

Big guitars with intricate drums and a vocal line that’s far from priest like. http://www.prayforhymns.tumblr.com/

6. Rooftops - Raft Easily

Clickpop Records/Topshelf Records, USA. Math Rock/Math Pop. 

Intricate math pop with a triple guitar attack and sparse vocals from an ever- evolving Washingtonian four-piece 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rooftops/55424297298

7. Heliport - Jerome Kerviel Is A Market Man

hiphiphip, FR. Rock/Indie/Punk. 

MM favorites Heliport finally released their long awaited album this year and have a lot in store for the rest of 2011. 

http://heliport.bandcamp.com/

8. Sport - Los Angeles, 1984

Unsigned. Melodic/Punk-rock/Pop-punk. 

France’s relatively unheard of Sport should be playing the warp tour, fun yet powerful punk-rock.

http://wearealoneinthisteam.tumblr.com/

9. Pneu - Choux Crane

Head Records, FR. Math-rock/Noise-rock/Experimental. 

Having made quite a name for themselves through extensive touring Choux Crane is just one example of the sheer brutality this manic duo can produce.

http://www.pneu.bandcamp.com/

10. Shapes - Cacophony of Silence

Big Scary Monsters (UK) Zankyo Records (Japan), UK. 

Loud Bursts of Alt-Punk. Three long term friends delivering the music they love to you!! http://weareshapes.tumblr.com/

11. RicoDimitri - Apache

Unsigned, UK. Fuzz/Alternative/Rock. 

This Brand new duo from the midlands smash distorted bass together with giant drum beats. BassVsDrums scenario. 

www.facebook.com/RicoDimitri

 

12. &U&I - La Mere Viper  

OnDryLand, UK. Experimental/Math Rock/Post Hardcore. 

Emerging from the flames that was once Blakfish to deliver a sound that will blow your mind. http://andyouandi.net/

13. Great Cynics - Cider For Breakfast

Household Name Records UK, Kind Of Like Records US. Acoustic/Punk/Sing-along. 

Great Cynics and their fans sing about partying, sleeping on sofas and drinking beer with their friends. 

www.ihatecynics.tumblr.com

14. Coping - F for Now

Topshelf Records/Fliff City Hit Squad, US. Midwest Emo/Punk/Indie. 

Fun, light and modest punk rock from the heart of the USA, full of outstanding sing-a-long moments. 

www.coping.bandcamp.com

15. Tangled Hair – Campfires

Big Scary Monsters, South East, UK. Indie/Math Pop. 

A band that started as studio based project and blossomed into something truly extraordinary.

http://asktangledhair.tumblr.com/

16. NGOD - Talk with Hands

Unsigned, UK. Math-Pop/Soft Rock. 

Stylish, smooth and subtle technical pop, full of sweet licks and harmonious tones. www.facebook.com/ngodband

17. Pharaohs - Photosynthesis

Centurion Records, UK/hiphiphip, FR. Math-Pop. 

Ex-Haemostatic Picnic Racers hailing from Kent produce catchy pop-punk with a lovely helping of intricate tapping. www.pharaohstheband.com

18. Stagecoach - Map To The Freezer

Alcopop Records/This Is Fake DIY Records, UK. Rock/Indie Pop/Noise. 

Anthemic skateboard indie pop with a flawless mix of humour, brains and a knack for well-placed woo-hoo’s http://www.stagecoachuk.com/

19. Alcoholic Faith Mission - My Eyes to See

PonyRec, DK / Paper Garden Records USA. Post-Rock/Folk/Indie 

Soaring mix of folk and post-rock and a potent combination of Americana and Scandinavia sentiments and sensibilities 

http://alcoholicfaithmission.com/

20. Gallops - Eukodol

Holy Roar/Blood & Biscuits, UK. Experimental/Electronica/Rock. 

England’s answer to Battles - dark, synth-driven dance movements powered by incredibly tight and precise drumming.  

http://gallops.tumblr.com/

21. Title Fight - Shed (Only available when you download the whole digital compilation)

SideOneDummy Records, USA. Punk Rock.

Fresh out of Kingston, Philadelphia Title Fight play youthful yet passionate stage diving punk rock.

www.title-fight.net

via Musical Mathematics