Here's the a new video from instrumental post-rock band Lite. Their new album Illuminate is phenomenal (more on that later), and "Image Game" is the perfect example. The song is an exercise in precision and control, but it's also rather hypnotic and energizing. The video doesn't really do much, but it works to show of the swirling, angular feel to the song just fine.
Feb 3rd-12th
Lite
US West Coast Tour
03/04/10 The Blue Lamp,Phoenix
03/05/10 Bootleg Theater,Los Angeles
03/06/10 The Casbah,San Diego
03/07/10 Muddy Waters Coffee House,Santa Barbara
03/08/10 The Blue Lamp,Sacramento
03/09/10 Bottom Of The Hill,San Francisco
03/11/10 Dante's,Portland
03/12/10 Chop Suey,Seattle
Source: MySpace
Lite "The Sun Sank"
Up first this week we have a a brand new video from post-rock instrumental band Lite. This song is actually quite a bit different than their previous releases, featuring lots of synths and and a generally more pop sound. That doesn't mean it's any less complex, though! The video follows suit, being a pretty simple idea, but done in a very interesting way.
Hit the jump for the rest of this week's videos!
sgt. - Live
Since we're on the subject of instrumental bands, here's a live clip from sgt. Since they have a new album coming out soon, I thought it was time to take a look at them again. This clip is a performance from about a year ago. It really kicks in about two minutes in. I've had a chance to hear the new album, and i think we'll be hearing a lot more about these guys in the near future.
Skywings are a rather new epic metal band. I've been keeping an eye on them since their demo was released a while back. This is their first official PV from their debut album The Advent Melody which is out very soon. Fans of X-Japan, take note!
Mass of the Fermenting Dregs "D-Angle"
Here's a very cool live performance from Mass of the Fermenting Dregs. It's always nice to see a trio really rock out, sounding like a band twice their size. Also, there's something about a small, barefooted woman with a huge bass, shouting her head off...Anyway, if you like this one, check out the rest of the gig as well!
Dead Man's Bones "Name in Stone"
This week's non-Japanese video is a great one, in my opinion. Need something to get you into the Halloween spirit? Then this is the video from Dead Man's Bones for you! I was originally going to post something on their song "My Body's a Zombie for You," which is probably a more interesting song, but I think this video totally blows that one out of the water. I really need to look further into what these guys are all about.
OK, that's it for this week!
It's not often that a band becomes more popular outside of its home country before they are equally well known at home, but it would seem as though Lite, an instrumental post-rock progressive band from Japan, has done just that.
They've played shows around the world, hitting up the UK and Ireland several times, as well as New York. They've released two live albums, one from Ireland and one from their recent 2009 trip to New York. They are even signed to a European record label, Cargo Records, along with the likes of The White Stripes.
The music that the band makes is, as mentioned, all instrumental. They are a bit like Downy in their overall sense of darkness, but Lite isn't nearly as arty or experimental. They are also not as light and precious as Miaou, nor as harsh as sgt. In some way Lite lives up to their name in that, while intense and intricate, little of what they do is overly heavy. This leaves them a bit more accessible to a wider audience who might be turned off by noodly math rock or way too spaced-out jams. They are smart without letting it get in the way.
Their instrumentality also makes them much easier to get in front of international audiences, something that has been a considerable help to other instrumental groups like Mono. Plus, they're just damn good at what they do, which is something attractive in any language (or lack thereof.)
