T̶o̶n̶g̶u̶e̶ - demo (2012)

Ryan from Megan & Amelia/DEERS!/Matsuri, Andrew from Matsuri/Ten Thousand Leagues, Conrad from John Cota and Nik from Calculator are forming T̶o̶n̶g̶u̶e̶.

This is their first demo and they belong to the post-hardcore genre and are potentially my favorite discovery in this category since Ohana. They are the grandchildren of bands such as Hoover, Bitch Magnet, Slint, Four Hundred Years or Rodan.

Bart and Friends - there may come a time (2012, Matinée)

I was surprised to read that it's the first EP of Bart & Friends on Matinée, as they sound like they have always been there. After having been silent during most of the 00's, they now multiply releases in the 10's.

Tawny Peaks - tawny peaks (2012)

Tawny Peaks are a band from Montclair, New Jersey, formed by  Charlie Perris (vocals),  Molly Grund  (vocals),  Jonah Fried ( bass, vocals),  Sam Skinner  ( guitar, recordings & production) and Dexter Loos (drums). 

This is their first self-recorded, self-released album, offered graciously as a free download on their bandcamp page.

In my book, indie bands with vocalists on one side and musicians on the other side don’t really work.

I was wrong.

Pausal – forms (2012, Barge)

The trouble with ambient drone music is that it is quite simple to start repeating yourself after a few compositions and through the process, you may lose a part of your appeal, as, not matter the level of quality you'll achieve, you will start to fail at surprise listeners.

To this situation, Alex Smalley and Simon Bainton brought the option to broaden their sound, giving rise to backwards influences.

There are ten compositions on this second album but they are regrouped into sets of two and three, so we end up just to have four tracks.

Seaworthy - sleep paths (2012, Slaapwel)

First Wim Maesschalck came with the the concept behind Slaapwel Records, a small record label specialized in music to fall asleep to, then artists belonging to the ambient instrumental scene adopted the idea. "Sleep Paths" by Cameron Webb's Seaworthy project is the eleventh release.

As a listener you're left with sleep-inducing records which don't need to keep your attention but just wish to quiet you down and disarm your brain. Suspense, tension, entrancement and surprise are out of question, so it is works conceived at first for fans of these artists and to those interested by the idea.