Novere – Danse Macabre
Similar artists: Hundred Year Old Man, A Perfect Circle, Amenra, Cult Of Luna, God Is An Astronaut
Genre: Post-Rock
Great, modern sounds are begging to be chased. In fact, those unwilling to go out on a hunt, to pack their bowie knife and mountain boots, needn’t apply.
If you’ve heard singles by some of your favourite veteran bands, you’ll know what the alternative is. It involves rewriting songs that have already been brought into existence, in more convincing ways, by other artists.
There’s a wonderful sense of dread about going out into the unknown like that. It’s an adventure that doesn’t promise anything off the bat. Things can easily go wrong, and the musical explorers can turn back with little to show for their troubles.
Novere’s “Danse Macabre” is a musical exploration that, in spirit, at least, owes plenty to 1960s psychedelia and classical music and less so to traditional rock n’ roll. There are, of course, guitars being used here, and a vocal style reminiscent of the likes of James Maynard Keenan. But that’s the only concession. The rest of the song is an attempt to uncover whatever lies hidden in the unknown.
Anthony Pirog – Inflorescence (Feat. Andy Summers)
Similar artists: Hammock, Bibio, Christopher Willits
Genre: Solo Guitar
Pop artists are burdened with formulas more than high-schoolers on their way to a math test. This is because almost all of the pop music is using structures that have worked in the past. It’s not of cynicism either that this is done, but efficiency. There’s no time to test out new things when hits have to be written. Fortunately, Anthony Pirog has no record exec breathing down the musician’s neck.
That might all sound bad, and you may even end up feeling that whenever you open your radio, you are being taken along for a ride. But you wouldn’t ask for innovation from your Coke bottle or the lady making your sandwich at lunch. Pop delivers a service in much the same way.
Anthony Pirog’s Inflorescence is an exercise. This is an ambient piece that artistically works similarly starring at an abstract painting where the artist has challenged themselves to use a particular colour. It will have an effect on you and your imagination, provided you want it to. The song features Andy Summers of The Police. Summers is one of a number of high-profile collaborators that Pirog has got on board for this project. They also include John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Neels Cline of Wilco.
