Ambient April: Day 30

Courage

This MP3 was found at  Dilandau MP3

I made it. 30 days, 30 songs. It's been a journey. There were times when I never thought I would finish. I racked my brain for all the possible songs stored within. I don't know what kept me going. It just kind of released itself from within, years of good vibes and fantasies reincarnating themselves into words and sentences. These stories were waiting to be told, just beneath the surface. Each song has a few different meanings or images it conjures up for me. I release the song out into the world and maybe it gets another listener who will have a different illusion spring forth from the music. Like we're all harmonizing our hallucinations. It's deep stuff, and when I'm writing these posts I get a good vibe going like I'm listening to the latest buzzband.

This song. I can't believe I've had it for almost four years. I can still remember the first time I heard it. And every time since the same set of images has come to mind. It's me. Years in the future. I turn on a speaker system that penetrates every corner of the house with the steady beat and thoughtful-catchy lyrics. I proceed to dance around my mansion in my bathrobe and fuzzy slippers but that's me. What do you envision?

Ambient April: Day 29

   Hot Venom by WrittenRadio

I see potential and I see squandering. I had really high hopes for Miniature Tigers when I first stumbled across them in 2009. The band was vaguely indie rock but came across much more like steady indie pop with electronic tendencies. They managed to impress me early with the sheer range of sounds in a single track and spot on lyrics. Their latest album, F O R T R E S S, was a bit of a disappointment. For the level of skill and innovation exhibited early on they haven't really pulled through into something amazing. Despite some minor disappointment, their first album did yield some pretty good tracks. This one, Hot Venom, is just what you need to get a taste of the band. Look up more if you like it.

Ambient April: Day 28

   Ambuscade by WrittenRadio

This blog is getting kind of predictable.
Step one: Find good "obscure" band.
Step Two: Download entire album.
Step Three: Pick out most ambient song.
Step Four: Blog about it. So here it goes:

The Broken West.
(2008) Now or Heaven, sophomore album.
"Ambuscade" a noun meaning ambush or a trap laid for an enemy.

This is LA power pop quintet, The Broken West.  The band broke up after five years and two albums. Their second album is still worth a download. It had some great tracks which really make the most of the power pop genres with steady drum beats and striking guitar riffs. Yes, this band had great cohesion and they all played their parts wonderfully. The only piece lacking was powerful lyrics or innovation. Without either of those two they couldn't rise past a plateau, and eventually dissolved. As always, appreciate what was, don't lament what was not.

Ambient April: Day 27

   slowly by WrittenRadio

I've kind of been in this trend of finding great one-man bands. Not the cheesy kind that play ten instruments at once for your nickels in front of the state fair but artists with full and complex that just so happen to be a solo act. This artist is known as Coconut Records. It's indie pop from Jason Schwartzman, a comedian/actor you may have seen. I actually knew both Coconut Records and some of his acting roles but didn't know he was behind this amazing self-released album, Nighttiming. The title track of which is superb but keeping in line with the month, here is the most ambient track from that album.

Ambient April: Day 26

   Phenomenons by WrittenRadio

Getting a little out there today. Give the song a fair listen. Reading the lyrics might help. Well, the artist is indie pop quintet, Twin Sister. Their sound has also been called indie electronic and chillwave but the best fit is still indie pop. This track is off their second EP. At this writing, they have not released a full-length album. I don't want to talk too much about it. The track is up there, hit play, vibe out, and relax.

Ambient April: Day 25

   Broken Afternoon by WrittenRadio

Helio Sequence is an indie rock duo consisting of Modest Mouse alum, Benjamin Weikel, and his close friend, Brandon Summers. The two are one of the most committed acts in all of indie rock. They've been going strong for about twelve years and have six releases. Even after losing his voice, vocalist Brandon Summers had to re-learn how to sing and released a kick-ass album that spawned this wonderfully ambient track.

Ambient April: Day 24

Real Live Version

This MP3 was found at  Dilandau MP3

My first real post was about Voxtrot and dealing with their metaphorical passing. It was all about the emotions and the creativity that it spawned. In essence, Voxtrot's self-titled and only album does the same thing. Each song deals with a different kind of pain whether it be loneliness, loss, desperation, anger, or the feelings caused by them. This song is perfectly opened by a soft piano melody. Leading to slow and consistent lyrics that delve into complexities of love and inherent social lies. Yeah, deep stuff. It's a really chill slow song that still has a great hook and meaningful chorus.