Gem Club: Breakers (4.5/5)

Joshua's Top 10 Albums of 2011

#5 of 10

Year: 2011

Genre: Piano-driven Atmospheric Melancholy

Label: Hardly Art

TRT: 37:49

Christopher Barnes channels the essence of melancholy and brings to mind "slowcore" pioneers Slowdive, while Barnes' haunting vocals are reminiscent of the Norwegian band The White Birch. Using his voice and his piano (with occasional help from cellist Kristen Drymala), Barnes creates immense atmospheres that are at once arresting and engrossing. His lyrics captivate your imagination, and whether hopeful or tragic, they come across with a sense of urgency and honesty that is sorely lacking in music these days.

01 Twins

02 Breakers

03 Lands

04 Red Arrow (John)

05 I Heard the Party

06 Black Ships

07 Tanager

08 252

09 In Wavelengths

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The Seven Fields of Aphelion: Periphery (4.5/5)

Joshua's Top Ten "Not Metal" Picks for 2010
#7 of 10



Year: 2010
Genre: Ambient Piano Dreams
Label: Graveface
TRT: 38:08

Another member of Black Moth Super Rainbow (in addition to Tobacco and Power Pill Fist) that has decided to dabble into the solo arena, thank goodness. Whilst Tobacco captures the dirty chip hop side of BMSR, and PPF exemplifies the noiser chaos side of BSMR, The Seven Fields of Aphelion channels the ambient and atmospheric side. Ethereal, surreal, soothing and thoughtful, we're treated to a softer, more contemplative and drifting sound...like floating away on a dandelion puff in a secluded mountain meadow, on the cusp of summer and autumn.

01 Slow Subtraction
02 Grown
03 Pale Prophecy
04 Wildflower Wood
05 Cloud Forest (The Little Owl)
06 Mountain Mary
07 Saturation : Arrhythmia
08 Fever Sleep
09 Lake Feet
10 Sunburst Chemicals
11 Michigan Icarus
12 Starlight Aquatic

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McDonald and Giles: McDonald and Giles (5/5)

Year: 1970
Genre: Psychedelic Progressive Rock/Pop
Label: Island
TRT: 46:02

Not to long ago a record store opened in town and I was buying a lot of vintage vinyl including: King Crimson, Led Zeppelin, Beatles, Yes, Nektar, etc....

I guess after seeing me buy a few stacks from him over time, the owner of the store showed me an album that he said was pretty rare that had members of King Crimson's first album. He obviously couldn't sell me his copy but he told me if I ever saw it, I should pick it up. I went onto eBay the next day and luckily ran into the Argentinean release from '77...the price wasn't even bad.

After the first listen I knew this was such a great album...I loved everything about it. Now after listening to it many times and some from different perspectives; it is probably my favorite album of all time. I know that's almost blasphemy when we talk about the best bands in the world, but for releases individually alone it is my favorite. If I could rate it a little higher than my other 5 star ratings.....I would.

01. Suite in 'C'
02. Flight of the Ibis
03. Is She Waiting?
04. Tomorrow's People - The Children of Today
05. Birdman

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Eluvium: An Accidental Memory in the Case of Death (4.5/5)

Year: 2004
Label: Temporary Residence
Genre: Atmospheric Classical Piano
TRT: 30:09

This is, in my opinion, Mathew Cooper's finest work. Beautifully crafted and completely engrossing, his fingers never let go of their hold. One of my favorite parts of this album is the raw element found due to the occasional miss-hit that was left in. It just adds a warmth that I find very comforting. This is a wonderful album to put on when you have nothing to do but sit and ponder, or as intellectually conducive background ambiance.

01 An Accidental Memory
02 Genius and the Theives
03 Perfect Neglect in a Field of Statues
04 Nepenthe
05 In a Sense
06 The Well-Meaning Professor
07 An Accidental Memory in the Case of Death

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