DOWNLOAD: The Poison Arrows - Casual Wave
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The Poison Arrows apply and amplify numerous lessons learned from Chicago's after-rock luminaries (Shellac, Tortoise et al) on their new-ish EP from File 13 Records, recorded under the watchful eye of Dr. Albini at Electrical Audio. "Casual Wave" hits a blissful peak around the four minute mark that crests and collapses on itself, as bagpipe synthesizers spread out and play capture the flag across the field of sound. Lay back in the sun, indeed.
Sounds Like: Mogwai, ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, Shellac
DOWNLOADS: Windsor For The Derby - Maladies + Hold On
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Why sing over the chorus? It's really overkill. Just pack enough melody and hooks into the A-part that you can let the B ride without all those unnecessary words. Maybe some "ba-ba-badas" and tambourine if you really think you need them - everything else is gravy. Then follow that up with those blissed-out organs and multi-tracked vocals over a motorik beat. There you go. That wasn't so hard, was it?
Sounds Like: Stereolab, My Bloody Valentine, Bedhead
Download: Windsor For The Derby - Maladies
EXCLUSIVE DOWNLOAD: Mogwai - Yes! I Am A Long Way From Home

The Drowned in Sound RCRD LBL blog has pulled out all the stops today and posted an exclusive bonus track from the reissue of Young Team, the Scottish post-rock band’s first album. The song, “Yes! I Am A Long Way From Home”, is quintessential Mogwai, blending the sensibilities of Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine into a new, exceptional whole. The track was recorded during the Young Team sessions, and retains that late ‘90s experimental feel, like right before Radiohead drastically changed their route with Kid A.
Sounds like: My Bloody Valentine, Radiohead, Sonic Youth
VIDEO THRWBCK: ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead - Relative Ways (2002)
It pains us to say that the most disappointing band we saw at SWSX this year was Trail of Dead: we don't know what happened, but we miss the fire 'n' brimstone days of Source Tags and Codes, and the apocalyptic bombast of "Relative Ways". Maybe their next album will be better, or maybe they were just having an off day? Enjoy the genre-defining video above.
STREAM: Russian Circles - Harper Lewis

Russian Circles, the Chicago-based instrumental post-rock group, are about to release their second album of haunting, alluring guitar music on Suicide Squeeze records this spring. We have a little teaser for you, in the form of “Harper Lewis”, the band’s first MP3 with us and an awesome, heavy slice of the upcoming LP Station. Enjoy…
DOWNLOAD: The Big Sleep - Pinkies

The Big Sleep, with their glistening forearms and permanent frowns, may end up being remembered as the last heroes of the lower east side before it went to high rise hell. Their music, 100% muscle, comes in vulgar thrusts too brutal to coexist with $6000 apartments and $15 hamburgers. Pure, relentless darkness.
DOWNLOAD: The Muggabears - Rings

Brooklyn post-rock trio The Muggabears have reared their cute little heads more than once on RCRD LBL, but this time we’re releasing one of their songs, straight up. It’s called “Rings” and it’s featured on their highly acclaimed 2007 EP Night Choreography. Like most of the Muggabears’ material, it’s a dark, noisy journey through their collective psyche, using searing rock instrumentation and distorted vocals and lyrics. “Rings” sounds like Pavement had they been raised goth instead of slackers, and possessed a tad of a Sonic Youth fetish.
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