June Release of the Month Picks

Release of the Month ~ June 2011

The Silent Ballet staff counts down its top picks of the month.

As the first half of the year comes to a close, music fans begin to peruse their recent acquisitions with a more intentional eye. What are the best albums of the last six months? What am I still playing, and what have I put away? As time progresses, assessments begin to shift. Albums that at first seemed spectacular slowly begin to fade. Others that were initially overlooked begin to rise. The Release of the Month chart serves as a snapshot of first impressions. Not everything will make our year-end chart, but everything will be a contender.

We were blessed with a particularly strong spring this year: a cavalcade of releases that tested our ability to keep up. But we did manage to listen to the entire slew, and have chosen a few favorites from the season’s final month. As readers can tell from our home page, it’s going to be an anemic summer in terms of new releases, so it’s fortunate that we have these discs to carry us through the drought.

1) Kreng ~ Grimoire
Miasmah
Grimoire‘s sound is an anomaly, constantly moving and acquiring momentum without ever sounding like anything familiar. Those who search for references are likely to end up empty-handed. The samples and instrumentation are wisely chosen; the mixing of jazz improv with intelligent songwriting is seamless. Together, they add a beautiful sense of humanity to the compositions. The album is industrial, minimal, theatrical and explosive all at once. In a year when label mates Deaf Center and Juv have both released amazing albums, Pepijn Caudron (Kreng) stands head and shoulder above them and miles ahead of most other experimental artists. (Mohammed Ashraf)

2) Not to Reason Why ~ The Book of Hours
sidewithus
This young band has defied the odds; each of its releases has improved upon the last, and its latest effort may be the best post-rock release of the first half. The three tracks are packed with power: energetic riffs and tender interludes, backed by a contagious confidence. The vinyl packaging is exquisite, from the cover art to the cream-colored vinyl to the old-school label. As some of the scene’s veteran acts have stumbled, it’s great to see the next generation surging forward to fill the vacuum. High fives all around. (Richard Allen)

3) Dakota Suite ~ The Hearts of Empty
Karaoke Kalk
Dakota Suite has graced the pages of our Release of the Month lists once already this year, back in February, for the group’s astounding collaboration with Emanuele Errante. Now Chris Hoosen and company are back for more with this month’s The Hearts of Empty. Though one would be hard pressed to call this music happy, it does feel a bit more upbeat than February’s contribution. Regardless, it’s just as beautifully moving as the Suite’s other work, featuring bite-sized chunks of minimalism, situated halfway between popular and classical instrumentation. At this point, the only question is whether the Suite will be able to keep up their average with another two list-worthy albums in the second half of 2011. (Tom Butcher)

4) Battles ~ Gloss Drop
Warp
When their erstwhile frontman bailed mid-recording sessions, the remaining trio of Battles had two options: give up and go home or rip it up and start again. Thankfully, they chose the latter and in a manner that should make psychoanalysts redundant overnight vented their anger at Tyondai Braxton into the sinewy grooves on Gloss Drop. The truth of it is, Braxton’s not missed, as Battles have one of the tightest and dynamic rhythm sections in current rock and it is they who define the sound rather than what goes on top. So instead of the chipmunk vocals that populated Mirrored, there’s a bunch of skittish, steel drum guitars flitting around the place and an eclectic selection of guest vocalists, from Boredoms’ Eye to electro-pop legend Gary Numan. Great art often thrives from misfortune, and Gloss Drop is no exception. (Jeremy Bye)

5) Esmerine ~ La Lechuza
Constellation
From great loss can come depression or inspiration. Esmerine takes the latter path with this an elegant tribute to Montreal singer Lhasa de Sela. La Lechuza is a celebration not only of her life, but of life itself: vibrant and colorful, like a street band at an outdoor café. When the guest singers share their tender lyrics, they do so with gratitude; the strings surround their words with a bed of grace. (Joseph Sannicandro)