Toby Driver - In The L..L..Library Loft (V0)

Toby Driver is the brain behind Kayo Dot, Tartar Lamb and maudlin of the Well. He has also done work with Gregor Samsa, and in addition to having a great knack for suspense and composition, he also has a perfect voice for the type of music he plays. Although In The L..L..Library Loft does not stray far from his avant garde style, it probably resembles the long-form ambient stylings of Lichens moreso than the jazzy, often confrontational style typical of most Tzadik Records labelmates.

In The L..L..Library Loft is prophetic: timid, and searching, but also quietly brilliant and powerful.

Download.

Time of Orchids - Namesake Caution (V0)

Time of Orchids remind me a lot of Kayo Dot. They use many of the same timbres and angular melodies, and Time of Orchids use the same abrupt changes in rhythm. Lyrically, though, they differ in that Time of Orchids seem to prefer a more choral approach to their arrangements of vocals and lyrics. The interplay between the multiple vocalists often complements the usually spiraling guitar lines, accented by the drums and, occassionally, more eccentric instruments. Although their arrangements are very similar to progressive rock bands, they are definitely less dogmatic in their approach to songwriting. There's a lot to analyze here, but mostly Namesake Caution just sounds really, really good.

In time, your weapon grows for you.

Ruins - Tzomborgha (V0)

Trying to describe the sound of Tzomborgha in relation to most popular math rock bands makes little sense, as their extreme technicality, odd chanting/yelling vocals, and overall wackiness isn't likely to remind anyone of Minus the Bear. What I can say is that that Ruins have taken bits and pieces of groups like Magma and Primus and twisted their sounds into an aggressive, awe-inspiring beast like little else in modern rock. For nearly 50 minutes, Tzomborgha grabs you by the balls and doesn't let go.

What is this I don't even...