Naked on the Vague - Sad Sun

2007; 5 tracks

This cover you see here is what happens when you try to extract more information from less information, for better or for worse.

Naked on the Vague is a mysterious Australian two-piece band who make mostly minimalist noisy new wave music with the occasional art rock elements. The singer is also a girl with a really low voice, so I'd say this is very similar to HTRK.

Sad Sun was one of Naked on the Vague's first releases, and in the past 4 years they have released a number of other EPs and full-lengths (two EPs came out last year). Theirs is a ritualistic and depressive yet sexy and rhythmic noise, and for those reasons I was hooked.


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Bluetile Lounge - Lowercase

1995; 5 tracks

Lowercase is astoundingly gorgeous. Mesmerizingly so. Australian post-rock group Bluetile Lounge are more slowcore than anything. Their music is sad and slow. Subtle beauty arises from the gray evenness as mist from the waves; sporadically, unexpectedly. I was reminded of Idaho, vocal-wise, and God is an Astronaut (somewhat), in terms of the post-rock-sounding music. This might just be one of the most... how do I put this... not just beautiful, but alluring albums.

Extra note: I think their band name explains the atmosphere of their music nicely. I've never been in a bluetile lounge, but if I ever was, this is the music I'd like to hear playing.



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Nazxul - Totem

1995; 11 tracks
An incredible black metal debut from a very under-appreciated black metal band, named after one of Tolkien's beasts.

"Nazxul is a black metal band from Australia. Since its inception, this band has been shrouded in secrecy. Their releases are few and far between, with Totem being their only full-length offering to date.

Nazxul's musical style reminds of early Emperor taken to a new level of extreme aggression. Their musical style incporates intricate guitar and keyboard melodies with thrashier, more aggressive sections and distorted, evil vocals. The vocals are of particular interest, a seemingly endless array of sinister whispers and inhuman growling.

Well-suited for such an obscure project, Nazxul's lyrics touch on occult and mystical themes. The album's title track is a good example of their lyrical vision:

The seal of wonder
The mark in blood
The one true symbol
Of everlasting fear

They will find it, they will fear it
The mighty mark
In bloody merciless madness

Totem
Thy mark, my mark
The winds will speak, when the storms die

Throughout the album, Morelli and Mitchell create some truly memorable riffs and melodies, with bassist Adrian Henderson fortifying their efforts with a solid backbone. Henderson also provides tasteful, intelligent keyboards that add another dimension to the album. Backovic's vocals seem to know no bounds, assaulting the listener from every angle.

While the entire album is powerful and consistent, 'I Awaken (Amongst Them)' and 'Distance Begins' strike me as being particularly ferocious and powerful examples of Nazxul's musical vision. The album closes with a long interlude consisting of a recording of a thunderstorm, but Nazxul treats their fans to a new recording of 'Hymn of a Dying Moon' from their demo before dissolving back into the shadows. Totem comes heavily recommended to fans of intelligent, complex black metal bands such as Abigor and Lunar Aurora, although most fans of extreme metal will find something to enjoy here." - Implications.

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