Band Spotlight: 6:37

(Photo courtesy of Last.fm user KeithMichael)

6:37 was an instrumental band featuring members of Deer Leap, Early Birds, Call Her Alaska, and Our Last Night. Their sound was far more comparable to the first three of those bands. Their post-rock sound is reminiscent of the more delicate and pretty sections of bands such as Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai, Caspian, etc. The mood never gets too dark or sad, always moving with an uplifting swing, the notes bouncing and melting off the necks of their guitars. You can really hear Keith (guitarist from Deer Leap)'s influence here, as the tone and playing style is very similar to other projects he has been involved in. Sadly, all that remains of their legacy is a six song demo, but thankfully it's excellent, building and twirling until the final eleven-minute epic, "Last Song." 

Here's a Youtube video of the fifth track on the demo, "The Busy World Of Richard Scary."




DISCOGRAPHY
Demo | Download or Download

Band Spotlight: Mural

(Photo courtesy of the band's Facebook)

A few years ago, a large number of bands, friends, strangers, and curious passerby gathered in a cramped yet homely barn in Derry, NH for Hopscotchoria. A myriad of emo, post-hardcore, folk, post-rock, and other bands played. It rocked. A year later, Hopscotchoria II happened, which was possibly even better than the first (I hope that I never forget the set that Pathos played), but the festival then fell by the wayside when the main organizer, Bill, moved to Chicago. Fortunately for the people who attended one of these two events, they were introduced to a number of hidden gems in the music scene; Mural is one such gem.

I think the closest comparison I could make would be to one of their contemporaries, New Hampshire beloved Deer Leap, although Mural tends to be more reserved with their music. It's what most people would describe as "indie rock," with some light post-rock elements thrown in (comparable to Moving Mountains?). The bright guitars are lead by multiple vocalists who often support each other with balanced harmonies, all supported by a simple but driving rhythm section. Unfortunately, I think that the Summer Demo is their only recorded release; fortunately, it's a remarkably polished demo and leaves me hopeful for more.

Below is a video of them playing at UNH. One excited Youtube user commented, "Best band to come out of NH in a very, VERY long time." While I don't necessarily agree with this, I think Mural is very aware of what they want to do and they're good at doing it. Although the quality of this video isn't great, I think you can still understand the scope of this band's live performance -- their sound translated very well live.

I haven't thought about Mural in years, but a visit to their Facebook page reveals that they are, in fact, active as of earlier this year; hopefully we'll see some new music or performances from them in the coming months.

DISCOGRAPHY

Summer Demo | Stream | Download

OTHER LINKS

Facebook (Active)

Bandcamp

Band Spotlight: Maudslay

(Photo courtesy of Last.fm user "Sayshalala")

Maudslay is a band that has proven to be nearly as mysterious as the supposedly haunted state park they're named after. In an age where nearly everything is accessible online, there is virtually no trace of Maudslay -- no live footage, no blog, nothing. All we're left with is a Myspace page and a couple of photos, yet the pedigree of this band's roster alone is enough to warrant a listen. Sharing members of bands such as L'antietam, Deer Leap, and BDRM EYES, Maudslay is a little-known emo band that is revered by the few people fortunate enough to have seen them perform live.

The majority of Maudslay's songs were mid-tempo and fairly catchy, with the instruments often playing off one another, the guitars intertwining with complimentary melodies. It's very clear to hear how members of L'antietam would be involved with this project, as the guitar work in songs such as "John Lennon" sounds like a less-aggressive and clean adaptation of their earlier work, when they still were more angular and riff-oriented. Meanwhile, the vocals are airy and uneven, charmingly unpolished, fulfilling the emo standard. He can be a little too-pitchy at times (particularly some sections of the song "Skyscrapers and Sheds") but it works for the most part. If I were to compare the vocal delivery to a modern band I'd say they sound very similar to Sore Eyelids. Seriously, compare these:

"Panama Canal" - Maudslay

"365 Days of Nothing" - Sore Eyelids (vocals start at about 0:30)

Anyway, my personal favorite song, "Mostly Swim In Veins", features a more peaceful approach, reminiscent of bands like Sharks Keep Moving and My Winter Nerve. If you're unfamiliar with either of those bands, both of which deserve your attention, I strongly recommend listening to them at some point.

I think of Maudslay as a band that fit neatly into the "emo revival" spectrum, with twisting guitar work played over punchy drums, songs that are very rhythm-based, and vocal melodies that are loose but not abrasive. A short-lived hidden gem of the New Hampshire scene.

Quick aside: Two of the associated bands I mentioned, L'antietam and Deer Leap, have already broken up (actually, I think Deer Leap still exists, they're just inactive). Fortunately, last I heard, BDRM EYES is still around, although I don't think they've played a show in a while. I've seen them play twice now and both times they were very enjoyable to watch. The guitarist and bassist switched instruments mid-way through the set and it created an interesting dynamic.

Anyway, Maudslay:

DISCOGRAPHY: 

Collected Discography (Contains S/T, Gauche, and Fall) | Download

OTHER LINK(S):

Myspace (Inactive)