Artist of the Day: Renaissance Sound

When I first stumbled on the work of Renaissance Sound last winter, I felt a rush of euphoria I'd only touched a select few times in my life. The band's unique mix of post/math-rock, jazz, and folk is warm, stimulating, and compelling--just as much today as it was the first time I ever heard it. Right now, I'm jamming to "Derek's Journey," the second track from the band's debut EP. It begins with the delicate plucks of a mandolin and gentle drizzles of percussion and keys before slight but emotional gang vocals rise over the instrumental tapestry: the string of solos following it is the highlight of the track, remarkably fluid and graceful. Not once does the music break the tricky balance between spontaneous inspiration and smart structure. It's clear throughout the release that we're in the hands of master songcrafters.

Anyhow, Renaissance Sound is closing out our Free Music February feature (if only February had a few more days), as its debut EP is FREE on the band's Bandcamp page. Meanwhile, I'm happy to announce that while I wasn't looking, the band snagged a signing to the up-and-coming Naked Ally Records and has an upcoming second EP coming on March 15, which looks to be even better. Go check both releases out if you want to know what this renaissance is all about.

Jukebox: Virt - "Staring At My Spaceship"

Jake Kaufman (better known as Virt) just may be my favorite musician in the chiptune community; his work, in all honesty, transcends musical boundaries, in my opinion. No track of his, however, is as dear to my heart as "Staring At My Spaceship," a moving ode to love, wonder, and beauty--at least that's how I see it. Though it was written way back in 2007, it still feels new every time I hear it: the track opens with vaguely cosmic synthesizer melodies that soon make way for a blend of energetic strings, fruity piano asides, and adorable chip melodies. The real showstopper is the climax of the track, which is an absolute blast-off the likes of which you have probably never heard in your life.

Oh, and should I mention that he wrote this song for his then-bride/now-wife Kristi? Swoon.

Stream/download the track here, and please take a moment to check out his awesome site, which features literally hundreds of free downloads.

Free Music February: ABSRDST

Today's release hails from chiptune musician ABSRDST--but don't tell him I called him that. In truth, Jack Vanounderaren does so much more than spitting out chirpy 8-bit tunes; his music is a world in itself, rich with atmosphere and plot. At heart, he's a storyteller, and the breadth of his musical vision is apparent on his outstanding new LP, Xhip Quim, which you can stream and download for free from his Bandcamp page.

Artist Of The Day: Mutrix

Continuing in the vein of Free Music February, Mutrix is an EDM artist who releases all of his music for free (much like the previously featured Project 46). Part of the burgeoning "brostep" movement in America, Mutrix is quite good at the various styles in which he participates, be it electro house, dubstep, or glitch hop. He's sure to be quite a polarizing artist given that he's very much got a stereotypical "bro" sound to him - listen to "Moments" and you'll see what I mean. However, of all the artists who embody the recent trend, Mutrix is one of the most technically sound and interesting. His remix of Krewella's "Killin' It" is a great example of what he can do, as it's one of the most exciting house releases of recent memory with its excellently minced vocal samples, interesting synth lines, and general fun factor. Mutrix has become very popular over the last couple months, and I predict that if the current trends in EDM continue he will soon become an Adventure Club-esque genre mainstay. For now, though, enjoy the free music he offers.

Facebook/Twitter (His music is all offered for free on his Facebook page)

Free Music February: Take One Car

As the second month of an exciting year draws to a close, we want to offer up what we can find in terms of free. With everything becoming more expensive, the term draws the eye more and more every day. Thus, our Free Music February experiment continues.

The latest addition we have for you is Take One Car, a New York band who came out with a chart-topping album precisely one year ago. The band labels their sound as "Rock or something," which doesn't really define the genre-mixing with justice, but is essentially applicable - elements of heavy post-rock are there, but with both traditional rock influences (which is where Tyler Irish's astonishingly good vocals come from) and much darker post-metal roots as well, melding to form It's Going To Be A Nice Day, which both Casey and I thought was impressionable enough to appear on our year's end lists. On top of the band's fantastic second album, both their first album and live recordings will also be included in Free Music February, due to the band's generosity in celebrating the one-year release of Nice Day. It is an excellent offer for an even better album, absolutely worth a minute of your time.

You can find all of Take One Car's discography on their Bandcamp page, free for the next week only.

Artist of the Day: sun cellar

Free Music February keeps on rollin' with today's Artist of the Day, sun cellar, an alt-rock band from Chicago, Ill. that is just getting started. Abstraction, its FREE debut EP, is above all an intuitive experience. Its bells and whistles are tried-and-true, yet the way the band puts its various components together shows an impressive understanding of how each piece fits into an altogether unique whole. Take "Light Leaks," a track that begins small before exploding into a beastly blend of calculated yet surprisingly forceful drumbeats and formidable guitar riffs. Frontman Nicholas Paul takes the opportunity to showcase his versatile voice, one capable of getting right into the head of a lovestruck twentysomething before turning around and walking away from the emotional wreckage, all in the space of a single stanza. There's more to this band than just musical proficiency, though, as each song is loaded with lyrics you'll have running in your brain for days: "Is that enough? Babe, that you wanted it bad enough?" Paul asks us on the chorus of standout "Checkmate," and quite frankly, I still don't have an answer to his inquiry. Abstraction's pleasures are just as rooted in the heart as they are in the brain; it's testimony that there's more to this band than meets the eye--ahem, the ears.

Once again, Abstraction is available for the low-low price of FREE on the sun cellar Bandcamp page. You can find more information on the band's Facebook page as well.

Album Review: Marc M. Cogman - Anthems

Album Rating: A

NOTE: This review is part of Free Music February and a revision of a review originally posted on December 22, 2012 on AbsolutePunk.net.

The title of folk-rock artist Marc M. Cogman’s third release Anthems is confusing at first, as nothing in the actual work suggests much of anything very anthemic. The production is scratchy and unpolished, often letting louder dynamics blur together in an angry haze. The instrumentation is right out of the folk playbook, utilizing pianos, guitars, drums, and little else. The lyrics rarely deviate from its author’s personal tribulations. Yet that’s precisely where its value as an anthemic work comes from: it aims not to please a crowd but finds its power in the individual struggles we all face in the name of love. Cogman leaves himself to grapple freely with his thoughts and ambitions, and the result is just as complex as his relationships: angry then hopeful, bitter then euphoric, detached then engaged—and throughout this rollercoaster ride of emotion, both relatable and uplifting.

Album Review: Mental Architects - Celebrations

Album Rating: B+

Celebrations is an apt title for math-rock collective Mental Architects' latest offering. Though this is no-nonsense fare that cuts right to the chase, there's plenty of room here for off-kilter moments, explosions of jubilation, and orgasmic climaxes so loud Explosions In The Sky would wet themselves with delight; members Tony, Niki, and Max (who refuse to divulge their last names) may think in mathematical terms, but this is nevertheless a release brimming with personality.

Free Music February: Wolfman Conspiracy

Eight-person ensemble Wolfman Conspiracy may hail from the frigid coasts of Massachusetts, but its music absolutely brims with warmth; throughout its latest EP, AntiVamp, it packages socially-conscious ruminations in poignant human stories and an immediately inviting atmosphere. Though a reggae band in name and style, it plays with the attitude of a punk-rock band, and fans of either genre will find plenty to like here.

Artist Of The Day: Project 46

In the spirit of our Free Music February here at Muzik Dizcovery, we present to you Project 46 as our Artist Of The Day. Plus, what better way to ring in my personal first (albeit late) FMF post with an artist whose entire catalog of almost 50 original songs, remixes, and mashups is available for free? No, seriously, everything Project 46 has released is free off of their website and/or Facebook page. The duo, aside from their excellent prog-house anthems which all typically have stellar vocal tracks (see "Dreaming," featuring Andrew Allen's excellent voice), is famous for their weekly "Pancake Fridays." Every Friday, the duo receives a random number from a random number generator (typically under 500) and if they receive at least that many likes on their "Pancake Friday" announcement post they release a free song (usually a mashup, but sometimes original work or a remix/bootleg). This "Pancake Friday" tradition, along with their skill in crafting progressive house, has catapulted them to stardom in the house world - they received the #100 spot in this past year's DJ Mag Top 100 DJs, they've released on major labels like Spinnin' Records and Armada, and they're currently touring all over the world to massive crowds everywhere. Project 46 will be a name to watch in the future, and what they've accomplished so far is only the beginning.

You can access Project 46's entire catalogue here.

Facebook/Twitter

Artist Of The Day - Old Gray

Over the past two years, Old Gray has grown immensely. They are almost unrecognizable from their 2011 demo when they used to play twinkly emo music in the vein of Snowing, but with their growth they have become one of the brightest upcoming bands in screamo. The group's latest EP Everything I Let Go & The Things I Refuse To took their sound from Do I Destroy The Universe and heighten it ten fold, raising the emotional intensity to a crushing level. From the spoken word opener "359 Pine" where drummer Charlie Singer speaks beneath post-rock style guitar riffs, to the chaotic build up to heavy distortion in "Resonance," to the intense repetition of the words "I am so alone" in "Winter '11," and to the intense feelings behind "Six Years," every song in the release is bult to create a powerful response. The songs easily accomplish the group's goals, and ended up coming together to be one of the strongest screamo releases of the year.

Free Music February: capucha

Happy weekend, everybody! I hope all of you guys are enjoying the winter (unless you're stuck in the blizzard destroying New England, in which case...brrrr.) If it's any comfort, today's free music download should help thaw your spirits.

Hailing from Madrid, Spain, six-piece group capucha released a FREE debut EP last October. The band exists in a nebulous space between indie and post-rock, its sound refreshingly stripped-back and intimate but its compositions demonstrating a mastery of tension and climax. It's a balance the band pulls off well: this is an ensemble without a weak link. While songs like "hay mucho amor" (which Google Translate tells me means "much love") build to crushing walls of sorrow, weeping slabs of guitar complemented by a robust string section, lead vocalist Roberto Perez reins them in from melodrama with his smooth, melodic voice. On the other hand, "nada que puedas hacer" ("nothing you can do") makes a hell of a closing statement thanks to the fantastic instrumentation, understated when playing against Perez' pathos but growing more ravenous with each passing minute and building to a ferocious climax that will elicit reactions from even the most jaded post-rock junkies. Just as the album's cover depicts a transitional period, something between a sunset and nightfall, so does capucha's music, yielding results as moving as they are creative.

You can download this EP for FREE on the band's Bandcamp page and find more info on its Facebook page.

Free Music February: Drive By Night

"Who do you think you're looking at, fool?!"

Greetings, all you brave readers on a qwest to dizcover muzik! I'm very happy to kick-off something I'd like to call Free Music February: this month, all of my Artist of the Day posts will feature a free download, be it a song, EP, or even an LP. So sit back, get your trigger finger ready, and prepare for the torrent of awesome headed your way!