Machine Dreams

Little Dragon - [2009] Machine Dreams

Little Dragon are an electronic outfit from Sweden. The singer is a hybrid of Japanese and Swedish, while the other members are quite blatantly pure Swedish (you'll understand when you see the keyboardist's beard). Some of the music appears shallow at first, particularly the verses in the track 'My Step', however listen to this properly and you'll soon appreciate all the spacey, tripped out sounds strewn through the song, and the entire album.

To me, Machine Dreams sounds like drugs, before you've even taken the drugs. Some tracks are mellow, and remind me of Massive Attack's 'Mezzanine', however rather than the saucy British vibe, you get this over-the-top 'The Mighty Boosh' level of ridiculousness. Listen to this album and you'll realise there is a great deal of depth to it. I wouldn't be surprised if these guys dropped acid and played with synthesizers all day.

Download.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/yourlittledragon

Official: http://www.little-dragon.se/

Wake/Lift

Rosetta - [2007]Wake/Lift

Rosetta are an ambient sludge/post-metal outfit from Philadelphia. The music on the 64 minute 'Wake/Lift' (an album name surely made to fuck with my anal-retentive folder naming convention) ranges from turbo-fuzzed guitar tones, massive, crushing riffs with heavy and distorted screams, to some quite peaceful, calm interludes, with satisfyingly gratuitous amounts ambient noise and delay. Inspiration seems to be drawn from bands like Nerosis and Isis, particularly in the softer sections, and very much so with the drumming.
Some really beautiful progression in the longer tracks on this album, particularly the closing song 'Monument', where the first _ minutes (number omitted for your own good) are a cock-tease, eluding to the brilliance that is about to unfold.

Listen to this album loud, preferably with some good quality headphones/speakers.

Download this sucker here.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/rosetta
Official website: http://rosettaband.com/

Metridium Fields

Giant Squid - [2006] Metridium Fields

Giant Squid are an eerie sludge/doom/post rock band from San Fran, California.
The genre is actually really hard to define on 'Metridium Fields', but if you're a fan of any of the above, I recommend you check it out.
They utilise the almost haunting voice of (one of?) their female members and layer it with the sometimes nasally, sometimes soothing vocals of the frontman Aaron Gregory. Some really creepy keys are strewn through the record, along with some heavy riffage.
I'd describe the overall sound as sickly sweet, in the very best kind of way.
This album is actually an entire re-recording of their first release 'Metridium Field' (note: no 's' on the end) which is apparently quite a bit heavier.

Vocals aren't very loud in this vid, but fuck me, it's amazing:

Get this album.

You can also listen to ALL OF THEIR TRACKS FOR FREE on their Bandcamp.
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/giantsquid
Bandcamp: http://giantsquidlives.com/