My Aural Infinity
Some songs have a certain distinct quality to rthem; they take you to rplaces you've never been without realizing where ryou're going, and ras soon as the track ends - you're back at home rwondering what rjust happened. |
| 1 | Moving Mountains
Ode We Will Bury Ourselves
Gorgeous, heartfelt, anthemic - this song has it all. It has an instantaneous
affect on me as soon as I hear it start to play. The buildup is immense, from
the preluding xylophone-laden introduction, through the heavier middle
section and into a chanted finale. Just spectacular work, and I'd recommend
it to any fans of post rock with vocals. |
| 2 | Agalloch
Black Lake Nidstang
This song is easily the best on Marrow of the Spirit - and not just because
of its 17 minutes in length. It makes me feel like I'm watching a group of
people from afar, walking through a forest on a blisteringly-cold
night...waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. The ominous ascent into
the finale is masterfully done, and it just comes away with this
astonishingly eerie atmosphere. Terrific for late night walks. |
| 3 | Anathema
Thin Air
The ethereal introduction reminds of heaven, or what heaven might sound
like if we were to enter it prematurely. This song makes me feel weightless,
flying through the sky in the early morning and gazing down below me at
the cities and countryside. It'll take you off your bed, out of your seat on
the bus, out of your cubicle at work - and it'll make you float into the sky. |
| 4 | Cloudkicker
A Hymn to the Projectile
Ben Sharp is one of the most underrated musicians on this site, and I have
been pimping the shit out of him for the past year or so. Since Beacons,
he's finally starting to get some of the respect he deserves. This song is a
remastered version of % from his ]]][[[ EP, and contains a certain
devastating quality that builds throughout. Most of the song is just one
passage with continuous pieces added to it, such as harmonizing and
additional drumming ferocity, but its ability to simulate a growing emotion is
startling. One of his best songs for sure. |
| 5 | Russian Circles
Philos
These guys make some of the best instrumental music I've ever heard, and
there's no track that sums up what they're aiming for more than Philos. A
10:27 long epic, it takes everything the band was trying to achieve over the
previous six tracks and takes it to a new level. Snare rolls and ambient
synth movements are frequently used, giving it an almost military-like
quality. I can imagine a battle that has ended with one soldier as the
survivor, and he's now forced to journey back to his homeland alone. This
song mixes dark and jovial moods to perfection. |
| 6 | The Saddest Landscape
The Sixth Golden Ticket
One of the most tortured and heartbreaking vocal performances ever.
Makes you feel like you're being berated for cheating on a spouse. Enough
said. |
| 7 | Scale The Summit
The Great Plains
A terrific band, albeit obviously influenced by Between the Buried and Me.
Still, these guys sacrifice some of the technicality in their music for emotion
and atmosphere - and it makes for one hell of a listen. This song's opening
makes me imagine myself staring down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon,
about to jump off with a hangglider. The constant swoops in tone and pace
simulate the nerves in a hangglider's stomach - do I jump or not? |
| 8 | Explosions In The Sky
Your Hand In Mine
Ah, here we are. The be-all-end-all of getting laid. I might have chosen First
Breath After Coma, because it's just such a captivating tune - but there's
something about this song that makes me stop whatever I'm doing and
wish I was with my girlfriend in bed. If you're in a relationship and you're in
this song, chances are you'll imagine the same thing. The tender and gentle
notes make for an intensely emotional experience, and even more so when
listened to with your loved one. Move over, Barry White. |
| 9 | Skycamefalling
Porcelain Heart Promises
This song is violence embodied. Those of you that love Of Malice and the
Magnum Heart by Misery Signals need to hear this song, as it similarly
expresses the disappointment and anger of discovering that you've been
cheated on. You can just picture your friend exploding at their
girlfriend/boyfriend while you're standing awkwardly a few meters away.
Awesome. |
| 10 | Slint
Washer
Is there a creepier song in post-rock? While I could have gone the
traditional route and GYBE!ed until my fingers gave out, I decided to give
props to an equally important group - Slint. This track is hypnotically bizarre,
and its combination of dark emotion and ominious lyrics makes me picture
an insane asylum. This would be playing as you walk down past all of the
rooms with inhabitants inside. Freaky stuff. |
|
