Captain Hollow - Debut EP

"We originally wrote and recorded these 6 songs in the attic of my mother's house in February 2010. At this time we were seventeen years old and we had just started Captain Hollow. After the original lineup fall apart a bit, our wonderful friend Anthony Bitetti stepped in to record bass and guitar parts and backup vocals. So, now about a year later we're finally putting this out and starting to play again. Enjoy. 
-ryan "

From the Capitan Hollow Bandcamp Site

When I was 17 I was not making music like this. The infrequent coordination and desperate attempts to remember basic structure changes were what marked my first full band experience. Not so with Capitan Hollow, these guys have just released an EP of six tightly written and preformed songs onto their bandcamp site for pay-what-you-want. They describe these recordings as "older material', which for me immediately begs the question; is their new material? and if so I need to hear it, it's that good.

Some other prominent members of Portland's scene seem to have been in on this band before most of us knew they were out there, the album artwork is credited to Jakob Battick and Antony Bitetti (from Good Kids Sprouting Horns fame) also appears on the EP to step in for a missing bassist while also writing and recording guitar work as well.  

Age aside this EP is just plain awesome, personally I discovered it towards the end of winter, a time at which I am notoriously on the internet way too often. What I heard got stuck in my head immediately and that was that, I can remember sitting on my balcony welcoming in the sparse rays of early spring sunlight, drinking a beer and listening to Chewelah and reading Dandelion Wine, needless to say it was beautiful. The band has announced that they are ready and willing to play shows around anywhere town and personally I'd love to get out see them, their music is reminiscent of old school screamo but with a much more well defined pop sensibility, which leaves the listener with a nearly flawless combination of serious and reverent song writing, angular and sometimes chaotic instrumentation with enough catchyness to keep the tune in your head until you can finally listen to it again.

Check this band out. It's definitely worth it.

Favorite Track:

Sun Poisoning

BANDCAMP

MYSPACE

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Booking Contact:

captainhollowband@gmail.com

Red Medicine -- Ancient Cartography

          Having known about Red Medicine since their very first recordings is a blessing and a curse. On one hand I am glad to have seen their remarkable progression, but on the other hand because of this I think it's safe to say that I've been looking forward to this release for a very, very, very long time. The band includes...

Matt Houston - Guitar/Vocals 

Dan Smith - Guitar 

Andrew Wright - Bass 

Ed Hamaty - Drums 

          Red Medicine is also one of the best bands in the state, with a live show to match. Their debut album is entitled Ancient Cartography, it is both a chaotic and euphoric blend of post-punk, jazz, screamo and spoken word style vocals. Above everything else though, an active listener will be immediately struck by the overwhelming sense urgency which lies just below the surface of this record, something which is missing amongst the many formulaic "punk" bands out there. Dan Smith and Houston compliment each other perfectly, working in unison against the soft backdrop of bass and subtly off tempo drumming created by Wright and Hamaty.

              Ancient Cartography is expertly mixed and produced by the band's own Matt Houston, setting a high standard  of DIY excellence which proves that local bands need not rely on traditional studio recording practices which are far too exclusive and expensive. Like many true punk bands, Red Medicine is committed to the Do-It-Your-Self way of doing things, down to the minute details like CD packaging and label design. .This DIY philosophy even extends as far as releasing such a monumental effort for free online via the bands bandcamp page, and no I don't mean pay-what-you-want....I mean free.

RED MEDICINE LIVE @ THE CASTLE

             Red Medicine's live shows are legendary and every time I attend one it's always better than the last, these guys know how to drive a crowd up the walls, in the best possible way. Whether it's The Castle in Mexico, Maine or at Poland St. in Portland these guys always steal the show, if you have a chance to get out and see them then do. Seriously, I mean it.

Red Medicine belongs to Rough Draft Records, a Portland, ME based DIY label who's mission statement is as unrestricted as the music it represents:

"The main idea is to have something to write on the backs of demos for the various bands we’re in, and more importantly to establish some sort of central hub for the various friends of ours making music in our home, Maine."

Other bands on Rough Draft Records include:

Butcher Boy

Pamola

The Waldos

Favorite Track:

The Outer Rim

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Glass Fingers -- Stranger (New Song)

Normally I wouldn't post on just one song but I really like this one.

Portland is pretty short on serious electronica talent, and I don't mean whoever DJ's at the Asylum on Saturday nights or whatever. I'm talking about legitimate, creative, innovative and most importantly expressive electronic music.

Glassfingers is that, and Jesse Gertz (the mind behind the music) has a new song and it's one of one of his best yet. Take a listen.

Glassfingers -- Stranger

Corrupt Government -- Demo 2011

I definitely needed to hear these tracks. Recently I've found myself sinking into new records from the likes of Radiohead or Explosions in the Sky, and while great in their own right I knew I was missing something from my musical diet. 

That thing was some serious, balls to the wall DIY hardcore and I thank Corrupt Government for giving me what I need. The band was formed in Saco, Maine in 2009 and although they are still recording music, a live appearance is doubtful as the band is now spread over New England. Out of nowhere  though they seem to have gotten together to record and master some tracks at Chump Change Recording in Portland, ME. 

The result is best described as energetic and satisfying; the band's deep riffy sound is accompanied by frantic percussion and delightfully jagged vocals which when blended together is guaranteed to make you want to punch someone in the face, I know I do. I wish this band was still around and playing shows, because this demo makes me long for a classic hardcore show. This new demo is available for free on bandcamp, take a listen and enjoy!

Favorite Track:

Can't Stop This

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BANDCAMP

LAST.FM

Kuato -- Winter EP

This is some serious shit right here.

Kuato is an underground post-rock band from Halifax, Nova Scotia (where I temporarily reside), they have released two phenomenal EPs in the past couple years building towards what is sure to be a glorious full length release. Their latest release is called Winter EP, and indeed it is aptly named. The atmosphere created by this record evokes the bleak and dissonance of winter in Canada, but at the same time is the furthest thing from scattered or barren, actually the opposite. Kuato build tension masterfully and when they do release it, the sound lacks nothing. These guys know exactly what they're doing and they do it well.

The band sits atop the contemporary post-rock throne of Atlantic Canada, which is no easy thing. Merely existing in the shadow of famed post-punkers North of America necessitates some seriously original song crafting. The band is about to have a short but busy series of shows in Halifax in the next few days so if you can see them around, do. 

Winter EP is available for pay-what-you-want on bandcamp.

Favorite Track:

Pet Seminary

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Jakob Battick & Friends -- Bloodworm Songs EP

Bloodworm Songs EP is the fifth total release by Portland, ME "nightmarefolk" collective Jakob Battick & Friends. If you are unfamiliar with nightmarefolk (as you should be) then perhaps this album isn't for you; it creates a dark, droning and sometimes jarring sound scape which sometimes becomes difficult to listen to. For those unfamiliar with Battick and his work this effect is intentional, the group plunges the listener under a blanket of noise and discord only to contrast the calm, soothing yet urgent mood of the rest of the music on the EP. Battick's minimalist style is evident here yet again, using hauntingly sparse rhythms he and his group of nocturnal shut ins weave a tapestry of loose ends and lamentations which ultimately conjure a sensation similar to standing on a cliff over the ocean just before dawn breaks. 

The new EP is going for $6 on the groups bandcamp site, along with the download of the EP the buyer also receives almost an hour of complementary live footage from The Oak & The Axe in Biddeford, ME.

If you're a fan of folk, dark folk or just looking to be sucked into a great live show Jakob Battick & Friends are not to be missed (except you might have to miss them because the recently went on hiatus).

Favorite Track:

Three Orphans

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BANDCAMP

The Nebs -- After All EP

I few weeks ago I heard The Nebs for the first time via Portland's fledgling Dispatch Magazine, and being curious I gave it a listen. The result reminded me a lot of a band that dominated my music sphere almost all winter last year called Pond. 

I guess that's kind of a random connection to make.

Anyway.

Basically I wish The Nebs would stick more to the sound they demonstrate on the first track of After All, the song starts off in a generally unassuming way but the calm, full, tubey, reverb laden chords quickly give way to up tempo, completely fuzzed out (slightly) thrashy awesomeness. This song is called After All, What's In A Reflection? and in addition to being by far the best song on here musically it is also by far the best songwriting effort on this record. As After All comes to a close The Neb's don't really return to the fuzz rock aspect of their music again in any real way after the first song, which is ultimately a weaker point for an album which has tons of potential, that being said I think I might like the first song enough to make up for the other three.

The EP is available for 4$ (or 1$ per song) on bandcamp.

Favorite Track:

After All, What's In A Reflection?

BANDCAMP

______________________________________

(for reference...)

This is Pond. They were an early 90's SUB-POP band from Portland, Oregon.

They are good.

WIKI

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Sombres Forêts -- Royaume De Glace

This band is from Montreal, Quebec and I recently came upon one of their albums by accident, and was totally blow away by what I heard. The band is called Sombres Forêts  and the record is Royaume De Glace. As far as I know they classify themselves within the "French Canadian Depressive Black Metal" realm. These seven songs (which amount to almost an hour) sound like the most chaotic, deliciously lo fi black metal imaginable, with a gentle post- rock infusion. The vocalist has one of the best and most desperate sounding  screaming voices I've ever heard.  Everyone (even if you don't normally like Black Metal) should give this one a shot.

Favorite Track:

La Nuit

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The Waldos -- Sludged Out Fish Logic

On my recent trips back to Portland I've been subject to various testimonials by members of Portland's underground scene which have assured me that this band was nothing short of amazing. I have to say I was excited to hear a band who had so impressed  the likes of folks from Red Medicine and Pamola. The band's latest and (tentatively) first set of recordings is called Sludged Out Fish Logic and is available for streaming on the band's bandcamp site and it does not disappoint in the least, in fact my only complaint is that the record is only five tracks long. The Waldos blend hardcore mathy goodness with esoteric jazzy tinglings which conjures the sensation of being underwater during a rainstorm. 

Sludged Out Fish Logic is a welcome addition to the myriad of great local releases coming out of Portland's underground recently.

Favorite Track:

Scuba Gear

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Glass Fingers -- Album

Album is the first real, serious full length musical release from from that enigmatic group known as Glassfingers, which is masterminded by none other than the preeminent Jesse Gertz himself. The music is electronic, but Gertz makes sure to never bore you with over simplified rhythmics, or worn out beats instead he weaves a beautiful tapestry of electronic and organic sounds which washes over the listener as though Gertz himself were giving you a sponge bath. Glassfingers is a relatively recent incarnation of Gertz's prolific musical career, he has many more rougher self released EPs and albums which range from indie pop to acoustic songwriting. Glassfingers is playing The SPACE Gallery in Portland, ME on March 11th with local electronica wizard Computer at Sea as well as the illustrious Dan Deacon who apparently hand picked Glassfingers as the opener. Keep a lookout for Glassfingers in the future, this shit's dank.

Favorite Track:

Beak

BANDCAMP

Huak -- Secret Trees EP

Huak has been around the Portland, Maine underground scene for a while now but has always been a relatively underexposed band, for how good they are that is. Huak's latest release is the Secret Trees EP which according to their Facebook page is pretty old, they seem to have a new record in the works right now which is definitely exciting. Again, I've yet to see Huak preform but I've seen the members at shows around the Portland area and at this point I feel it's only a matter of time. Their music is mathy and hardcore but like most bands which carry the "post" tag they sometimes dip into melody before dropping back into chaotic, layered guitar work. Their musicianship is commendable and more than anything it's just nice to see something which sounds new.

Favorite Track:

Stats and Demographics

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We Are The Vulture -- War Torn

We Are The Vulture are an excellent hardcore band from Bangor, Maine. Unfortunately I have yet to have the pleasure of seeing these folks live but their most recent release War Torn definitely caught my attention. It's a record which is short and to the point, but all six of the tracks are bursting with some of the most legitimate hardcore energy I've heard in a while plus the record is surprisingly well produced. War Torn is available for pay-what-you-want on bandcamp.

Favorite Track:

Slowburn

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