The Plants Are Dead on the Back Side
Saxon Shore – July 5
Each day I come home from work and empty the mail. There are usually at least two packages in there, stuffed with cds. There’s probably another package with some vinyl in it waiting upstairs in my apartment. I’ll look it over, not recognize the band names and put it in my bag for the morning. Then, at work the next day, I’ll give each one a spin and see what happens. Lately it’s been pretty tired. I mean, the music isn’t necessarily bad, but it’s not very inpsiring at all. Just kind of there, ya know?
So today, I looked at this soft little EP cover from the Saxon Shore, with a smooth creme background and a trio of flowers slowly growing out of a stump, and I had no idea what to expect. Turns out, Saxon Shore make incredible instrumental music, much like a God Speed or Mogwai. It was a wonderful surprise and I’ve got a new band to check out.
The band is on Burnt Toast Vinyl in Philadelphia. Not necessarily a full band, Saxon Shore is basically a guy named Matt Doty , who uses a circle of collaborators on his various albums. This latest incarnation of Matt Stone (Guitar, Keyboards), Steve Roessner (Drums), Oliver Chapoy (Guitar, Keyboards, Programming) and Will Stichter (Bass) seems to be working like magic. I could listen to this music all day. It’s slow and beautiful and spacey. The entire EP is this good, if not better. You can order all of their albums (including this one Luck Will Not Save Us From A Jackpot of Nothing) directly from their site. Highly recommended. This is the best EP I’ve heard in a minute.
5 Comments
John
zzzzzzzz..
it’s like Boards of Canada, minus any sense of direction
jennifer
their live show is so boring. everyone pretty much talked through their set when i saw them.
their tour mates on the other hand, anathallo, were the most incredible live act i’ve ever seen. you robots should give them a listen.
jeremy
what she said, anathallo is indeed amazing. i’m listening to a holiday at the sea right now actually
ethan
yea
saxon shore are the shiznit. their previous ep, “four months of darkness” is possibly my favorite recording all time. for what its worth. i love this band. i liked them better before their old drummer left. they create real beauty, real music. it takes some time to get into, like all music worth listening to.
Erik
Completely agree that these guys are amazing at crafting a fine instrumental piece.
I have just started lawschool…and everynight I put their four albums on when I begin my marathon reading. The natural ebb and flow of their albums help me stay into my reading…it’s amazing.
I haven’t seen them live, but am very interested in seeing them on their just announced “Exquisite Death of Saxon Shore Tour.” They are hitting basically every city in America b/t now and the end of the year.
It’s just great stuff…some of it soothes, some is fun, some is trippy…I must say I do like the all instrumental “be a bright blue” album best of all.