The Algorithm [Interview]

The Algorithm

Some artists have more than one calling. Maybe it’s graphic design, audio production, or accountancy. For Rémi Gallego, purveyor of progressive electronic insanity as the Algorithm, it’s definitely comedy.

You’re set to hit ArcTanGent 2015 this week. What’s going through your mind right now?

I really badly want to listen to Ricky Martin right now and I really hope he will secretly perform at ArcTanGent. Please tell me he will.

What can the curious expect from your set?

I can tell you what they can’t expect: Read more…

Posted on 18 August 2015

Agent Fresco – ‘Destrier’ [Review]

Agent Fresco

There’s more to pain than just pain itself. Extended periods of serious suffering are not always stable and uniform; the experience can contain many subtle emotional shades. There may be periods of calm, relief, joy, and hope mixed in amongst the darkest of dark moments – and Destrier demonstrates this fact in musical form.

Fuelled by the brutal beating of vocalist Arnór Dan Arnarson at the hands of two strangers, and sharing its name with Read more…

Posted on 17 August 2015

Godsticks – ‘Emergence’ [Review]

Godsticks

Godsticks are fast becoming A Name in the prog world, and rightly so. Previous efforts Spiral Vendetta and The Envisage Conundrum have led the three-piece into the world of stages shared with the Aristocrats and the Mike Keneally Band, thanks to a double whammy of pristine musicianship and engaging compositional skill. Over time, Godsticks have edged closer and closer to the guitar-driven world of Fucking Badass Rock & Metal – and on Emergence, they’ve finally and firmly planted their flag left of that territory’s centre.

Emergence has a restless quality to it that reflects its creators’ recent evolution. Stylistically it feels uncertain, as if it’s not quite sure what it’s supposed to be – but at the same time, the musicianship on display is confident and self-assertive. Taken together, these aspects lend a nervous anxiety to Emergence‘s track listing – and if that was the point, then it’s fucking genius.

Below The Belt sets out Godsticks’ stall, with long and winding lyrical roads passing through Read more…

Posted on 14 August 2015

Monuments / No Consequence / Toska [Live Review – The Boileroom, Guildford, 12/8/2015]

Monuments

Progressive Promotions have great taste in bands. The lineup for this show was absolutely immense, kicking off with TMMP favourites Toska (92%). Regular readers will have already read many evangelical words about these guys – but they fucking deserve it. This time out, performance was prioritised over precision, resulting in one of the most intense, borderline apocalyptic Toska sets yet. A couple of mistakes were made, but who the fuck cares when the music is that epic?

Following Toska’s opening barrages has proven tough for some, but local legends No Consequence (88%) Read more…

Posted on 13 August 2015

Let’s Talk Daggers [Interview]

Let's Talk Daggers

If you love mad-as-a-lorry mathcore that makes as much sense as eating soup with a knife and fork, Let’s Talk Daggers are the band for you. Located somewhere between the Dillinger Escape Plan and Animals As Leaders side-project T.R.A.M., these guys have exactly what it takes to tantalise your neural connections – and they’re currently crowdfunding new album A Beautiful Life through PledgeMusic. TMMP caught up with LTD drummist Steven Berwick to chat about crowdfunding, creativity, football pits, and bucket lists…

Your new album A Beautiful Life is the subject of a PledgeMusic campaign. What motivated you to take the crowdfunding route for this release?

We decided to use PledgeMusic to help fund the album because we’d heard from various sources that it was not only a great way to introduce new and old listeners to what we had to offer, but it also meant that we were able to reach our audience in a way that we hadn’t before.

It’s been going really well and I think our fans are excited about what they’re going to hear.

What can the curious expect from the new album?

A Beautiful Life is a much more forward-thinking, mature version of Read more…

Posted on 05 August 2015

Heights / Agent / Sumer / Toska [Live Review – The Barfly, Camden, 31/7/2015]

Heights

South West Trains can drill a hole in a mirror, and fuck themselves.

Fortunately, TMMP overcame assorted transportation disasters to see Toska (95%) open a lineup bookended by two bands who’ve been slowly making their way north of Brighton together over the past few months. This set was easily – easily – Toska’s best live showing to date, mainly thanks to an absolutely immense sound job. Studio-grade tones, songs equal parts Armageddon and ecstatic release, a level of tightness that borders on pure telepathy…these guys are the perfect instrumental prog-metal band at this point. Judging from the amount of head-bobbing going on, every single earlycomer knew it, too. I’d be willing to bet that more than a few of them are in neck braces today.

Following Toska is a real challenge – and Sumer (83%) Read more…

Posted on 02 August 2015

ArcTanGent 2015 [Festival Preview]

ArcTanGent

If you’re a regular TMMP reader, you appreciate the fact that the best music is created without boundaries. Although normal isn’t always boring, stepping outside your comfort zone is essential if you want to start adding the spice of variety to your life.

ArcTanGent has a stellar reputation for hosting bands whose music is free from everyday restraints. Common time signatures and orthodox melodies are a rarity at this UK-based festival, and progressively-minded pilgrims travel from far and wide to its south Bristol site to share their passions with likeminded others. This year, TMMP will be among them.

ArcTanGent’s core philosophy is respectable enough – but a quick glance at its lineup provides much to start salivating over. From big names like Cult Of Luna, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Deafheaven, 65daysofstatic and The Fall Of Troy to solid Read more…

Posted on 26 July 2015

2000 Trees 2015 [Festival Review]

2000 Trees

UPDATE: TMMP has been reborn! This video has the full story:

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Few things in life feel as good as immersing yourself in something you love. Diving deep into awesomeness, allowing the world’s worries to slip away, replacing baggage with better things. Escaping.

Of all the modern world’s escape hatches, music remains one of the most enigmatic and rewarding options. However, everyday life offers few opportunities for extended periods of musical immersion. You can walk down the street under headphones, spend a lazy Sunday in the company of your sound system with the curtains drawn, or spend an evening at a top-class venue taking in a few bands – but for many music fanatics, such experiences still don’t go deep enough.

2000 Trees certainly does. Situated on an out-of-the-way Gloucestershire farm in a 3G-free dead zone, the Trees site is an ideal location for digital disconnection, and reconnection with simpler things. The feeling of sun on your face, wind on your skin, and pure live music vibrating every cell in your body.

Arcane Roots’ (95%) set was the perfect reward for an Read more…

Posted on 15 July 2015

Lu’Ami [Interview]

Lu'Ami

With 2000 Trees 2015 almost upon us, it’s time to draw your attention to an artist who really sticks out from the rest of Trees’ beyond-epic lineup. Loopist extraordinaire Lu’Ami is due to bring a massive array of gear to the stage, and through it fill your ears with a brilliantly quirky and frankly uncategorizable sound. Think a chilled female Beardyman, and you’re at least in approximately the right ballpark. Kind of.

TMMP got in touch with Lu’Ami to talk 2000 Trees, creativity, and looping a cheering audience…

Your music is really intriguing. How would you describe your sound?

Well first of all, thank you kindly! I’ve had this conversation with so many people – everybody thinks differently!

To be quite honest I couldn’t decide on one genre. The way I see it, the vocals are percussive soul, most of the song structures are pop and the music is experimental, with a bit of electronic thrown in because of the sounds and equipment used. But I’ve just got back from playing at Fete de la Musique in Berlin and they described me as “synth pop”, so it’s definitely open to interpretation.

I’d like to think I’d created a new genre, but I guess all artists have their own little genre depending on where the influences come from.

You’re set to play a set at 2000 Trees 2015. How’re you feeling about it?

Im super excited, to say the least! Festivals are my favourite kind of gigs. I basically dress like Read more…

Posted on 07 July 2015

Cleft [Interview]

Cleft

Cleft are fucking nuts. Some bands just grab your attention through sheer force of intent – and this instrumental turbo-prog duo is definitely one of them. TMMP got talking to guitarist Dan about their upcoming set at 2000 Trees – and this is what came out…

You’re due to hit 2000 Trees 2015. How’re you feeling?

We’ve had a hectic and challenging few months due to illness so it feels like it’s come out of the blue to me actually. We’ve been burrowed away writing loads of new material for our next album, so we’ve not had much time to think about gigs and festivals. It’s only now that it’s so close that I’m realising we’re actually doing this festival, playing with so many amazing bands. It’s going to be an excellent weekend!

Musically, you’re pretty out there. If an inebriated stranger were to ask what you sound like, what would you say in response?

I’d describe ourselves (to an enormously drunk and unmusical stranger) like a cross between Yes, Slayer, and Mr Blobby. But to a normal human person, we’ve been categorising ourselves as “turbo-prog,” which seems to have stuck now.

We play riff-based progressive music that we’ve condensed down to the length of an average to short pop tune due to our very short attention spans. We’re exactly the same as the Beatles – if the Beatles were an instrumental, gear-obsessed drum/guitar duo with a penchant for filthy riffs and odd groovy rhythms…

What made you decide to stick with the guitar-drums duo format? Would you consider expanding the lineup?

I think we just both thrive on the challenge of Read more…

Posted on 02 July 2015

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