Downy

Dark. Art. Rock. That's the best way I can think to describe Downy. At first, one might think of Radiohead, but then the massive, complex, looping rhythms tell you that this isn't any ordinary shoegazing group of guys. They are gloom machines churning out huge falling blocks of rusted metal and dusty empty rooms. Their fractured structures are as relentless as they are fragile, with Robin Aoki's desperate, thin voice piercing through it all. Their albums are all untitled, each one more distorted and angry than the last. The only light they use on stage comes from a single video projector that bathes the stage with its imagery. Unfortunately for us all, Downy broke up after releasing their fifth (live) album. At least they left behind some amazing albums, and some equally amazing videos.