What’s initially striking about Columbia, Mo.’s Nonreturner is how their music reverberates with the stately, supernatural beacons of the world’s iconic mysteries—this could be a perfect soundtrack for a trip to a Mayan pyramid or a voyage through the Bermuda Triangle.
Shadow Sea is the soundtrack to a world on fire, mankind’s last transmissions garbled into a ghostly howl. Static and fuzz sing harmony to caterwauling and often rhythmic mangled samples.
“Barely standing by the north sea my ancient friends are all waking up”. The album sees influences from bands such as Grizzly Bear and “This is a Long Drive With Nothing To Think About”-era Modest Mouse.
Compiling nearly two years of handcrafted compositions into a work of astonishing sensitivity and vision, McFarland ably spans the gamut from predictably Eno-entrenched ambiance, robust, melodic stomp and ragged, Crazy Horse dirge, crafting found sounds, live instruments, and electronic onomatopoeia into things that breathe.
Ursus Arctos’ self titled debut is the sound of a well polished machine – a battering ram of both balls out rock jams and thoughtful intricacies.
In Dark Trees Have Gone Static EP, released in 2008.
In this collection, you’ll find works of high science fiction that I’ve heard people liken to Heinlein or Vonnegut, darkly comedic and vaguely cinematic stories one might imagine came from the mind of Wes Anderson, and everything in between.
The second album from American ambient recording artist In Dark Trees, released in 2009.
Columbia, MO arts collective and “anti-record label”‘s inaugural compilation album featuring founding members In Dark Trees, Makeouts, Nonreturner, Prize Wolf, and Ursus Arctos.
Rather than being submerged underwater, The Barn Owl EP dwells on the land. It feels like a quiet jam in a childhood bedroom after a few clandestine bong hits.