Album Rating: 5.0

"Poil, Ni, Piniol, Shelter, DRH to name a few that I have seen live and which blew me away."

PoiL and Ni are amazing, a bit jazzier/progier than AdP. PinioL is very impressive too, same guys, closer to mathcore/jazzcore. Not sure I was able to find the right Shelter, but what I heard was good. DRH quite solid jazz rock/metal fusion. Will definitely get into PoiL, Ni, and PinioL 🔥 You probably already know them, but given the bands you recommended, you'd probably enjoy Dazzling Killmen and Zeni Geva, insane stuff.

Album Rating: 3.0

https://shelterfrance.bandcamp.com/album/spetsnaz



This are the Shelter I was referring to. I assume they must be different fromthe ones you found as this is not really close to electronic dub.



Yeah DRH is definitely is one of those bands that did not fully manage to capture the intensity and energy of their shows into their recordings. If you ever have a chance to watch them, do yourself the favor and go, amazing band!!

Album Rating: 5.0

"https://shelterfrance.bandcamp.com/album/spetsnaz

This are the Shelter I was referring to. I assume they must be different fromthe ones you found as this is not really close to electronic dub."

Oh this sounds closer to AdP actually, slightly jazzier/progier, but similar in spirit and song structure. Great stuff. Will keep an eye open for DRH if they ever come to Montreal.

so everyone's listening to Vol.1 too, right...?

nope. prime numbers only

Damn I never checked this out, doing it rn

Reminds me of coming across local bands live that you've never heard, they are really great and impress you and you buy the cd - But later when you listen to it you realise that it only really worked live, and on cd it's a bit meh. The songs aren't actually that good. But man it was a fun show and got into it at the time of their performance. CD gathers dust.
I reckon id love seeing them play these songs live, but not much interest listening to recorded versions beyond initial curiosity and novelty.

i'm kinda feeling that way too a little bit ngl

Album Rating: 3.0

If you listen to this without any visuals this is remarkably unremarkable. Groovy and technically proficient, yes, but songwritingwise rather bland. The microtonality is used in a very mmm well flowing and streamlined way,kudos to pull that off, but a little dissonance, hell a little anything, would have been great to make this more interesting. Well maybe, thats what the visual gimmicks are for...

Album Rating: 3.0

I feel like I'd like them more if they were less about "jamming" and more about songwriting, but I gotta say, I bet these guys would be fun live

Album Rating: 4.7

Your take is remarkably unremarkable. This shit is groovy as hell and has lots of interesting sounds to latch onto

Album Rating: 3.0

Fine here's a shitty take that's more in-depth (that I imagine less people would like):



The fact Google has a special visualization for them despite them being nearly unheard of until 2 months ago is suspicious. Normally to get one of those, you have to be MEGA FAMOUS or a historical figure (am I wrong about this?)



The fact their identities are completely unknown is also pretty suspicious. Like it's one thing to wear wacky costumes and to have a strong alien gimmick, it's another to be entirely anonymous and yet INSTANTLY pushed by music media and even Google. Industry plant vibes. I don't normally use that term, but the hype around them is suspicious in its suddenness. Like a math rock band of any other name would never get that treatment. Like is their visual schtick and musical talent really that captivating or is it just a case of well-planned marketing?



It's not like the "initially anonymous" thing hasn't been done before. iamamiwhoami did this, but she got only a small niche following that took a while to grow. And she put in way more effort into looking mysterious and unusual -and honestly had more unique music. Maybe it was just the wrong time for her in 2013.



I think I've become too cynical to like Agine's schtick, but they're very talented. I hate to be an overthinking downer fun ruiner (hard to believe, I know,) but when I do research on artists that look interesting I'm usually looking for more substance than I could find for them?



Apparently "The group describes itself as a "mantra-rock Dada Pythago-Cubist orchestra" composed of "space-time voyagers"." But like if they describe themselves as dadaist, why is their music so structured and pattern-valuing? It's like they just listed some "smart art words" regardless of whether or not it reflects in the music. Their visual schtick I suppose is dadaist. I see the space-time and cubist parts in their music at least? Then again cubism is a visual medium, so "cubist" music could technically be interpreted in a million ways. Though I wish the actual music was as tongue-in-cheek as their outfits/interviews. I'm definitely asking for too much.



Positively: It's definitely very "groovy" as gyro describes it. Still would be fun live. Silly vibes is always a good thing, and it's definitely part of what they're going for. And since it's so viral, this could make them a gateway band for math rock/prog rock fans of future generations.



Okay...now on to never listening to them again

Album Rating: 3.0

People say they sound a bit like Battles but I'd say they sound like half of Battles

Album Rating: 4.7

My remark was directed towards Donchivo.



Idk man, I think people just write these guys off before giving them a fair chance. But then I feel like a lot of people listen to an album once, slap a rating on it, and call it a day. Disliking this (or anything) is totally valid. I'm not trying to be elitist here; it's just that most of the criticisms I see make me think the people making them haven't really engaged with the material. Not liking the looping samples is totally valid. Just not being a fan of this genre is also fine. It's when I hear that they "sound like every other math rock band" that I start thinking, "probably didn't actually listen." Or when people say that nothing happens, tracks aren't distinct, etc... Also just not accurate. That's the take I formed after quickly skimming each track for the first time. I was already fatigued at the end of the day, and I kind of skipped around the tracks to get a general feel for it, and I thought it sounded a little nondescript at first, everything kind of blending in together.



As for your take, Ars: I think you’re overestimating how rare that kind of visibility is now. Stuff gets picked up quickly if it hits the right pockets online, especially something rhythm-forward like this. Easily digestible, unique aesthetic. They were "unheard of" to me too. There’s a ton of stuff that’s effectively invisible until it suddenly isn’t. Nothing about this rings suspicious to me. Those kinds of criticisms sound like, "I don't really dig these guys; therefore, their sudden rise in popularity is suspicious." Had iamamiwhoami received as much praise and visibility in a short time span, would you have thought to yourself, "something's not right here"?

I’m here with you Ars. I’m not sure if they are plants but I certainly wouldn’t be surprised, the blow up is sus. Big President vibe

Gave it a few spins this week, there’s a decent psychedelic element here, like good to mong out to once it gets going, but yeah I have no desire to keep listening. Maybe that’ll change if I saw them live

Album Rating: 3.0

This is in semi rotation for me, it's easy to put on, album finishes quite quick and I always think there'll be more...I'm just not blown away, but I dig it, maybe I need one song to take over my life at some stage.



As weird power duos go this is 10,0000 leagues below Lightning Bolt for me I gotta say.

Album Rating: 3.0

"Their Canadian identity is a mystery"



Woooooooo

Album Rating: 3.0

@Gyro: Maybe if she got her own Google visualization

google referencing them is weird af i agree

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

they are on playoff hockey commercial break medlies now



i have never seen a band go this viral