OMG

I find it somewhat amusing that the space-rock group God Is An Astronaut is from the quaintly named town of Glen of the Downs in Wicklow, Ireland. At the heart of the band are the brothers Torsten and Niels Kinsella (guitar/keyboards and bass/guitars respectively). The group formed in the early part of this century (Wow, it sure seems strange to say that), and they added the drummer Lloyd Hanney to round out the band. Some claim that the group is one of the finest Irish indie rock groups of this century. I guess I’d equate that with saying “One of the finest bands to come out of the thumb of Michigan”. Anyway, I’ve never seen the group live, but apparently they put on an incredible show, with spectacular videos accompanying each song. They’ve put out four recordings to date and have numerous youtube vids. Well worth looking in to.

Strings Attached

Balmorhea was founded in 2006 by Rob Lowe and Michael Muller. The group features various string instruments including violins and cello and is often accompanied by the talented pianist Peter Broderick. Their music is relaxing and has a pastoral, country sound but is definitely classically grounded. Much of it is sweeping yet has a toe-tapping quality to it. They remind me a little of Oregon but with a country tinge. Balmorhea has four CDs out to date, and they’re all worth a listen.

For Pete’s sake

Peter Broderick is a multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter from Portland, OR. There’s almost no information about him—in fact, on his myspace page, he’s asking for help on his bio! His recordings mainly feature piano and guitar and his delicately nuanced voice. Much of his music has a Harold Budd feel without being overly New Agey. In some ways, he reminds me of a stripped down version of Nick Drake. I highly recommend his cd How They Are, although at just over 30 minutes in length, it’s not what I’d call a “good value”. However, it’s one of the most hauntingly beautiful recordings I’ve heard in a long time. There are a ton of his songs on youtube—do check them out.

Wash Up!

Washed Out is the musical project of Ernest Greene. It’s trippy, hazy, dance music and has been compared to groups like Neon Indian and Memory Cassette. I don’t know much about Mr. Greene except that he’s from Columbia North Carolina and released his debut EP Life of Leisure in 2009.

Here Comes The Son

Ryan Lott is the real name of the musical character known as Son Lux. He was born in Colorado in 1979 and spent his youth moving with his family from city to city. He started playing classical piano at the ripe old age of six and went on to pick up the guitar and drums. His interests spread to jazz and pop and he studied composition and piano at Indiana University. Ryan began composing music for various dance companies.

He eventually took the name Son Lux and started a solo career creating ethereal, dark but listenable music. His debut album At War with Walls and Mazes was released in 2008. The music reminds me a bit of early Genesis and Radiohead and he could easily be part of the 4 A.D stable of musicians. It’s percussive and sparse and unsettling at times, and his voice isn’t for everyone. But the music of Son Lux is certainly unique. And that’s a good thing.

Got Cimbalom?

The group Cimbaliband is the true definition of World Music. Members of the band include Hungarians, a Serbian, Gypsy, Germans, and a Croatian. Their music is a mixture of Gypsy, Hungarian folk, and jazz, all combined in an energetic amalgam that makes you want to grab a partner and dance. The lead instrument in the group is the cimbalom, which is the Gypsy equivalent of a hammered dulcimer. I didn’t find much information about the band other than the fact that they are based in Budapest, Hungary. I think they’d make the ultimate wedding band!

Modern Math

The band Mute Math, (also know as MUTEMATH and MuteMath) features the strong vocals of Paul Meany. He was as singer in a Christian rock band and formed a bond with drummer/programmer Darren King. They established a long distance musical relationship, exchanging CDRs until they finally agreed to move to New Orleans and form a real band. Their music borrows from the indie-rock past and is somewhat reminiscent of Radiohead, Coldplay, and a cadre of other groups. Their songs are catchy without being commercial. Another group that I can’t figure out why they're not more popular.