And So I Watch You From Afar - And So I Watch You From Afar (2009)

Explosive, threatening, hypnotic; there are many words to describe the sound of "And So I Watch You From Afar ", but predictable certainly is not one of them. On their self-titled debut album the Northern Irish instrumental rock quartet delivers pure creative genius. Somewhere between slow-grinding viciousness and manic outbursts, they manage to build impressive walls of sound. Though clearly inspired by 80's punk and hardcore as well as classic stadium rock and metal, their music is so diverse and playful that it hardly fits into any common idea of genre. Exciting with a capital E!

1.) Set Guitars To Kill

2.) A Little Bit Of Solidarity Goes Along The Way

3.) Clench Fists, Grit Teeth...Go!

4.) I Capture Castles

5.) Start A Band

6.) Tip Of The Hat, Punch In The Face

7.) If It Ain't Broke, Break It!

8.) TheseRiotsAreJustTheBeginning

9.) Don't Waste Time Doing Things You Hate

10.) The Voiceless

11.) Eat The City, Eat It Whole

 

Ratatat - LP4 (2010)

New York-based experimental duo Ratatat probably makes the weirdest music I have ever heard. Their instrumentals resemble sound mosaics, recorded and arranged beyond any musical style or convention. On LP4 they mix such contradictive genres as French house with cheesy 80's metal guitars and classical string orchestra arrangements with afro funk breaks. Ratatat tear pop music as we know it into shreds, just to put the pieces back together and finally turn its dynamics upside down again. Brilliant!

1.) Bilar

2.) Drugs

3.) Neckbrace

4.) We Can't Be Stopped

5.) Bob Gandhi

6.) Mandy

7.) Mahalo

8.) Party With Children

9.) Sunblock

10.) Bare Feast

11.) Grape Juice City

12.) Alps