So ever since seeing this local instrumental rock band open for The Reign of Kindo (Jason Richardson) on Sunday, and picking up the Flash Drive they had available with all 3 of the releases they have that are on their bandcamp page which are embedded below (the 2nd one, Tiny, Little Light which is free to download by the way).
I have been checking these studio recordings the last few days, and have in some ways been blown away.
The use of dynamics and intricate instrumentation and production is very clear.
Their music is bright, energetic, epic, and even somewhat diverse. Sometimes slow, sometimes moody, other times technical. The contrast and interplay of the guitars and drums really works well. And the piano, which I suppose may be 1 of the biggest things that makes them stand out from many of the instrumental rock bands out there.
There's at least 1 or 2 bands I'm still not remembering who they reminded me of, with their use of piano with post-rock/jazz etc. But I guess just to make a couple of comparisons.
1 being the early Tangled Thoughts of Leaving aka the Tiny Fragments EP especially. The subtle at times, yet goose-bump worth piano melodies that create such wonderful mood and atmosphere is present.
The other I want to say some of the earlier God is an Astronaut, I recall having some similar kinds of moments to the music from Umi.
But also someone like Pat Metheny of course (or more recently, The Super Pilots/Mike Linden), largely per the happy and bright tone, and even jazzy element.
I need to work my way through their stuff more to fully grasp how great this band is, but at a minimum, I think they are the both the best new band from Minnesota I've discovered since at least Words for Penga in 2015? and also maybe more so, the best instrumental/post band I a may attach myself to since Nordic Giants back in 2014.
I wonder if they could catch on the way I wondered about Brice Plays Drums or Lehto and Wright. Their music is both THAT GOOD and also it seems THAT ACCESSIBLE.
But, I also feel/felt the same way about the great Minnesota local band NOMIA. But...no dice really. If they remain a local treasure in MN, I can't really complain. But their music does seem appealing enough many may be sleeping on it.
oh, 1 other band who I wonder if they know or could play a show with: Put Down the Muffin. Instrumental proggy jazz from Minnesota would seem a group whose audience could enjoy.
https://www.facebook.com/UmiMinnesota/
World of Color [EP]
rel August 27, 2017
1. Droplet 04:30
2. In The Fog 05:58
3. World of Color 03:08
4. Ruin 06:00
5. Voyage 05:49
Tiny, Little Light [EP]
rel May 16, 2016
1. Warmth 01:57
2. After Warmth (ft. Jakub Żytecki) 05:02
3. Violet (ft. Plini) 06:47
4. Sunshine 09:55
Umi
rel August 24, 2015
1. Umi 06:32
2. Broken Ice 03:01
3. Oshun 04:15
4. Ika-Roa 02:16
5. Colorless (feat. Jared Waln) 04:46
6. Glass Fish (feat. Dustin Korth of By The Thousands) 06:05
7. Big Wave 03:04
8. Leaf Boat 04:30
9. Flow 03:35
10. Islet 02:16
11. Torrential 05:58
Showing posts with label Put Down the Muffin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Put Down the Muffin. Show all posts
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Put Down the Muffin - Charged Particles (2014)
I think I posted something earlier this year or late in 2013 when they launched their Kickstarter campaign, which ended up being successful obviously since this album was just printed and I received a copy in the mail just a day ago.
Put Down the Muffin I 1st heard on KBEM radio in Minneapolis, one afternoon driving home from work like in 2007 or 2008. They were playing live, being interviewed, and promoting a concert they had coming up etc. I remember the DJ asked them about progressive rock and who their favorite band was and one of the members says "well I could lie and say something like Soft Machine, haha, but I'll admit, it's Rush."
Anyway, they kind of disappeared after that point, and I meant to see them live and never was able to. That is why seeing their return of sorts recently online and then this album was kind of a big deal to me.
I have now listened to it twice and I can say I am certainly enjoying a lot of it. Stylistically, they are a jazz fusion group of a kind, but on this record, they go into some other genres to a point as well. I suppose 1 band I was reminded of at times was Tangled Thoughts of Leaving. Their use of keys and synths as not only for atmosphere, but actually a lead melody of a kind.
There are not really vocals exactly, but on 1 or 2 tracks there are what sounds like vocal lines, played backwards. "Limbic Fever" which I probably would say is my favorite track overall. The synth melody is kind of dreamy and ethereal, almost like Minus the Bear or something.
To mention some others: Aqua McGreen, Bed Foil, Arab Baker, Einstein Was Wrong and Mr.Potts all stood out in different ways. The 1st part of this album does resemble some classic Jazz Rock like Return to Forever or Weather Report. But as it goes on, it seems they do show the variety of styles they include.
I suppose you could call these kind of a hodgepodge of mostly instrumental Jazz-Rock incorporating Post-Rock, soundtrack-like textures and emphasizing synths and piano at times. Now, they still do use guitar quite a bit, even on some tracks as an equally lead instrument. But it does sound like they may use more than 1 keyboard or synth texture as there is a variety on this album. At times it almost resembles like Circus music or something.
I do also dig the way they use samples (something I totally love when used well).
One of the better local and instrumental records from 2014 certainly, and a record I look to spend more time with certainly the rest of this year/season.
This album doesn't appear to be available yet unless you backed their Kickstarter. But given they have a Bandcamp page
http://putdownthemuffin.bandcamp.com/
I wouldn't be surprised to see it up for sale there soon among other spots (Amazon, CDBaby, etc).
Put Down the Muffin on Facebook
1 Mr. Potts 5:23
2 Nightline News 4:02
3 Aqua McGreen 4:34
4 Hüba Güba 7:25
5 Claire the Loon 3:04
6 Oo˩ 5:52
7 Bed Foil 4:10
8 Limbic Fever 6:30
9 Einstein Was Wrong 3:54
10 Temporary Fix 1:07
11 Arab Baker 3:54
12 Ten Miles to Waconia 5:48
Put Down the Muffin I 1st heard on KBEM radio in Minneapolis, one afternoon driving home from work like in 2007 or 2008. They were playing live, being interviewed, and promoting a concert they had coming up etc. I remember the DJ asked them about progressive rock and who their favorite band was and one of the members says "well I could lie and say something like Soft Machine, haha, but I'll admit, it's Rush."
Anyway, they kind of disappeared after that point, and I meant to see them live and never was able to. That is why seeing their return of sorts recently online and then this album was kind of a big deal to me.
I have now listened to it twice and I can say I am certainly enjoying a lot of it. Stylistically, they are a jazz fusion group of a kind, but on this record, they go into some other genres to a point as well. I suppose 1 band I was reminded of at times was Tangled Thoughts of Leaving. Their use of keys and synths as not only for atmosphere, but actually a lead melody of a kind.
There are not really vocals exactly, but on 1 or 2 tracks there are what sounds like vocal lines, played backwards. "Limbic Fever" which I probably would say is my favorite track overall. The synth melody is kind of dreamy and ethereal, almost like Minus the Bear or something.
To mention some others: Aqua McGreen, Bed Foil, Arab Baker, Einstein Was Wrong and Mr.Potts all stood out in different ways. The 1st part of this album does resemble some classic Jazz Rock like Return to Forever or Weather Report. But as it goes on, it seems they do show the variety of styles they include.
I suppose you could call these kind of a hodgepodge of mostly instrumental Jazz-Rock incorporating Post-Rock, soundtrack-like textures and emphasizing synths and piano at times. Now, they still do use guitar quite a bit, even on some tracks as an equally lead instrument. But it does sound like they may use more than 1 keyboard or synth texture as there is a variety on this album. At times it almost resembles like Circus music or something.
I do also dig the way they use samples (something I totally love when used well).
One of the better local and instrumental records from 2014 certainly, and a record I look to spend more time with certainly the rest of this year/season.
This album doesn't appear to be available yet unless you backed their Kickstarter. But given they have a Bandcamp page
http://putdownthemuffin.bandcamp.com/
I wouldn't be surprised to see it up for sale there soon among other spots (Amazon, CDBaby, etc).
Put Down the Muffin on Facebook
1 Mr. Potts 5:23
2 Nightline News 4:02
3 Aqua McGreen 4:34
4 Hüba Güba 7:25
5 Claire the Loon 3:04
6 Oo˩ 5:52
7 Bed Foil 4:10
8 Limbic Fever 6:30
9 Einstein Was Wrong 3:54
10 Temporary Fix 1:07
11 Arab Baker 3:54
12 Ten Miles to Waconia 5:48
Friday, September 13, 2013
Put Down the Muffin - New Album (1st in 8 years)
9/13/13 7:25PM
1st song "Ten Pin" which is pretty sweet. Diggin the keyboard lead.
As far as the Kickstarter, they need a little under $2600, in just under 3 weeks. It seems doable, as long as they keep sharing the link/info.
8/31/13 10:33AM
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pdtm/help-fund-a-new-put-down-the-muffin-album
1st album in 8 years. Not enough time to go in-depth, but PDtM were/are a great Minnesota-based instrumental I recall? jazz-fusion/prog band. They've sort of been on a hiatus for many years, but never really broke up officially.
I never saw them live, but meant to, namely in 2007 or 2008 the same evening I saw Dean Magraw's great band 8-Head play a reunion show at The Cedar Cultural Center. The 8-Head show was so good, I couldn't bring myself to leave during the set break to go see PDtM.
But maybe with this new album, a show or 2 will happen as well (maybe at The Artist Quarter?), and I will finally get to see them unlike that show conflict many years ago.
Also it might be worth adding, great Minnesota prog bands Between Two Skies and Bubblemath might take note of this campaign and it may serve as motivation to finally release their long-awaited next records. One can think/hope.
1st song "Ten Pin" which is pretty sweet. Diggin the keyboard lead.
As far as the Kickstarter, they need a little under $2600, in just under 3 weeks. It seems doable, as long as they keep sharing the link/info.
8/31/13 10:33AM
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pdtm/help-fund-a-new-put-down-the-muffin-album
1st album in 8 years. Not enough time to go in-depth, but PDtM were/are a great Minnesota-based instrumental I recall? jazz-fusion/prog band. They've sort of been on a hiatus for many years, but never really broke up officially.
I never saw them live, but meant to, namely in 2007 or 2008 the same evening I saw Dean Magraw's great band 8-Head play a reunion show at The Cedar Cultural Center. The 8-Head show was so good, I couldn't bring myself to leave during the set break to go see PDtM.
But maybe with this new album, a show or 2 will happen as well (maybe at The Artist Quarter?), and I will finally get to see them unlike that show conflict many years ago.
Also it might be worth adding, great Minnesota prog bands Between Two Skies and Bubblemath might take note of this campaign and it may serve as motivation to finally release their long-awaited next records. One can think/hope.
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