[Derek]

hey, I'm jumping on the bandwagon, mainly because I like getting music out there and people will listen to me more if I make it a dumb series thing for some reason. so yeah.

 

maudlin of the well - bath
'dark symphonies' 2001

If I ever made a list of albums that have took my breath away the most, this would be number one for sure. A lot of people know maudlin of the Well as their current incarnation, Kayo Dot. But while Kayo Dot were an intriguing avant-classical prog band, maudlin of the Well were more based around metal riffs. It's hard to summarise my feelings for this album, as I'm sure anyone would have this difficulty if they were trying to describe their favourite album ever to someone. maudlin of the Well mix metal and clean, soft parts and while bands like Opeth and Agalloch clearly make their soft passages metal influenced, maudlin of the Well do not show this. They are able to transcend genres flawlessly; one moment there would be a metal section and then the next would be a beautiful acoustic melody yet they manage to make this sound so flowing. Listening to the clean parts alone you would not know motw were a metal band.

The guitar melodies are beautiful, the drums are intricate yet never become the forefront of the music (much in the way that jazz drumming would sound), the lyrics are very spiritual yet vague enough for the listener to draw their own conclusions and on top of that there are lots of clarinets and horns thrown on the top. Everything about this album is just perfect, none of it goes on for longer that it has to and yet the album feels so epic. The band's other albums are amazing as well (My Fruit Psychobells, Leaving Your Body Map) but this album is the most personal to me.

Everyone should hear this album at least once.

Download it:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=QYCCMW9V

[noisereductions]

"Essentials" was my thing. Biter. (kidding of course, derek. Good stuff, I've never heard of this.)

[Derek]

there are only so many words that I could use haha. I didn't want to say "classic".

and please, listen to this!

[noisereductions]

I checked for it on eMusic. No go. What label is it on anyway?

[noisereductions]

haha, I didnt notice yr link at the bottom. What an idiot.

[Derek]

.

[atsonicpark]

yeah great band/album

[Derek]

There you go guys, you have atsonicpark approval also! so listen to it!

[atsonicpark]

hahaha.

[Derek]

ATTENTION EVERYONE!

http://www.maudlinofthewell.net/

maudlin of the well have recorded a new album of old material that was never finalised! And it's on their website for free! Yay! Go listen to it!

[atsonicpark]

yeah, summer posted that. Of all people. Haha.

[Derek]

WHAT? when? where?

[Derek]

Alright found the thread. Never showed up in the New Posts thing.

Anyway yeah, this album is quite beautiful.

And this thread is better than summer's thread

[raging_nelly]

i might make a similar series.
i will specialise in bands that have featured in nme (altho arent bummed by them so its alrite) like once, that you'll all be quick to dismiss, but are actually quite good.

like the gossip's 'movement' for example.

the guitarist only has three strings! and he always tuned to ADD or something. come on! thats gotta turn you on!

[summer]

I call bullshit, this thread is only better than mine because it mentions an album that contains an album with a song as good as "Heaven and Weak". >.>

I listened to it maybe twice last night, and really, it was like a Kayo Dot album in disguise. Doesn't sound toooooo much like old motW, especially since Mia Matsumiya is on it; haven't listened to Bath/Leaving Your Body Map in about a month but I'm fairly certain there are no strings on those albums. Not that I'M complaining, I love violin yay. I wonder if this is truly just a one-off thing or if they'll tour? That would be cool, but at the same time, I like Kayo Dot more than motW, so would kinda be lame.

Yeah though, anyone who has never heard this band, listen to Bath and Leaving Your Body Map, great stuff. Especially if you happen to not be into metal.. it'll more than likely inspire you to delve deeper into the genre.

Here's the first track from Bath. If anyone likes it, listen to the whole thing, you'd love it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGq6ofW-NqQ

[Derek]

Well it technically is Kayo Dot. The compositions are just maudlin of the Well. And no, they definitely won't tour... Forbes said that on the Kayo Dot board (which I don't post to anymore).

I like Kayo Dot more, they are definitely the better band. But I have such an emotional response to maudlin that I sometimes would rather listen to them for 5 hours than listen to a minute of Kayo Dot. It's weird, it's just the type of mood I'm in.

And don't reject My Fruit Psychobells... very amateurish recording and not as tight as their other stuff, but still very beautiful songs. Some of those songs have my favourite melodies in them. And the trumpet in... Ocean, The King... I think is just breathtaking.

Best band ever.

[summer]

I'm going to be honest, I still haven't checked out their first album. I probably should soon. I know some motW fans would call this an outrage, but I think Choirs of the Eye and Dowsing Aneomone with Copper Tongue are much better than Bath and Leaving Your Body Map.

[Derek]

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=LHFFGYY2

[Derek]

This album is a perfect background to the snow pounding against my window as I try to look out.

[tcpotbntmy]

My Fruit Psychobells... - great album.