Album: Vault62 - 'Vault62'

Info: Currently based in New York, Derry native Aodhán O'Reilly has released his second album, self-titled under the moniker of Vault62. The ambient and experimental rock album is a beautiful composition full of variety, starting off gently with the ethereal 'On The Bridge' which features some contemplative piano playing and scattered percussion. Second track 'Unicorn' is brash and really reminded me of Four Tet and Mount Kimbie's Crooks & Lovers, the song again melds a soft backing track to wild sonic spurts. One of the undoubtedly best tracks on the album comes in the form of 'Indian Summer (Part II)', moody electronica and assertive drums are mixed nicely with tingling percussion once again creating an other-worldly atmosphere to get lost in. 

'A Pretty Low' is well, quite pretty, with some highly enjoyable and larger than life piano progressions, foreboding strings and really great drum beats, again a firm favourite of mine on Vault62, the track is quite gripping and powerful. The album concludes with the eight minute long 'On His Back', from tender openings marked by tingling chimes, the song in some ways leads you to a contrasting soft landing in comparison to the tracks which preceded it. Vault62 is an interesting album that lifts you through various moods in a controlled way and the instrumentation is very accomplished and alluring for the listener, a fine set of songs.

'Vault62 is the moniker for Irish guitarist/ composer Aodhán O’Reilly. His first album  Seascapes, released in 2012, was a compilation of DIY home and field recordings,  encompassing aspects of post rock, ambient music, and experimental soundscapes. The album was named as one of Indie Rock Mag’s "Albums of the Year".

He released EP1 in December of 2013 showcasing a more electronic and sample-heavy sound.

His second album, and first official release under the name Vault62, was released in April 2015. Simply titled Vault62, the record’s 8 tracks delve further into the Electronica and atmospherics of EP1, while incorporating aspects of his more avant-garde and experimental influences.

O'Reilly identifies certain minimalist composers such as Steve Reich and Phillip Glass as influences, as well as aspects of Free Jazz and more contemporary artists like Kieran Hebden and Fuck Buttons.

Currently based in New York City, he also writes and plays guitar for local bands Helix1 and Black River Manifesto, as well as being an occasional member of a number of other New York City projects.'

Look / Like / Listen & Follow:

Website: http://vault62.tumblr.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vault62music

Bandcamp: https://vault62.bandcamp.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/vault_62

Single: Bells Atlas - 'Bling'

Bells Atlas, 'Bling'

Info: A couple of weeks ago I featured Oakland band Bells Atlas' excellent single, 'Future Bones', and they're back again with another great track, 'Bling'. Again featuring an array of vocal and musical textures that mesmerise you so pleasantly, 'Bling' celebrates the more experimental side of the band, moving through their afro-pop bread and butter sound to a mixed electro and rock sonic rush that threatens to overwhelm before it's sudden and soft landing. What's behind the track itself?; 'The lyrics touch on the idea that what we see is not the only reality. The possibility that the physical boundaries between us are more fluid than we might presume, and the thought that there are many invisible but somehow accessible layers of beautiful extra ordinary absurdity everywhere.' 

Personally I'm very excited to get to listen to the remainder of the Hyperlust E.P. release and enjoy more of bands surprises as the variety on display on both tracks is rich and engaging. 

Look / Like / Listen & Follow:

Website: http://bellsatlas.com/

Bookface: https://www.facebook.com/hearbellsmusic

SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/bellsatlas

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bellsatlas

Single: Known To Collapse - 'Circulated Undercover Ground'

Known To Collpase, 'Circulated Undercover Ground'

Info: In addition to a great lo-fi indie track, Alabama band and San Francisco residents, Known To Collapse, have made a wonderful video for their new single 'Circulated Undercover Ground', I can relate to the storyline's central character in many ways that I'm not going to share! Frontman and song-writer Kevin Lehner's vocals repeatedly reminded me of José Gonzalez on the lower notes and the music had an undoubted mid-90's indie / grunge feel to it. The pointed guitar sequences and drums carry the song along nicely from start to finish and the breaks are nicely timed as well, and unusually I could hear some similarities musically to British shoegaze bands such as Ride. Enjoyable in the least and then there's that video again.

Know To Collapse are currently crowd-funding the recording of their next LP at IndieGoGo until the 22nd of May. The single itself is about searching for love and not finding it, only to have it come your way when you're not looking. The video takes this idea into modern times through the use of emojis as a visual communication tool.  The band has executed these ideas with visionary director Martin Yernazian and his team at Atorrante Films with the video anonymizing the main character behind an emoji mask representing his feelings through this journey, both in reality and fantasy. 

Look / Like / Listen & Follow:

Website: http://www.knowntocollapse.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KnowntoCollapse

SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/knowntocollapse

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KnowntoCollapse