Post by Taylor Bostock on Jul 18, 2015 21:27:56 GMT
Band: Yowie
Genre: Eclectic Math Rock/noise rock/ spazzcore.
Release 2004 & 2012 on Skin Graft records.
Talking about this band is really one of the more difficult things i have done in my time doing this forum and these threads in particular. There is virtually no information on the band. And only having 2 full length albums and a split release, makes this more of a personal recollection rather than a more researched review. But even reviewing might seem a bit of a challenge, for Yowie might be one of the most difficult bands to describe in any aspect.
Yowie is technically a math rock outfit that started around 2004 if we are going purely on their discography. Most of their release (i.e. All of them) have pretty much been overseen by even the more obscure music review sites and blogs. Even though, Skin Graft records, is a somewhat known name within the noise/alt scene. It's still remains a mystery how this band is overlooked. And people who know the band are extremely divisive within the bands position in the realm of noise rock, math rock, or even experimental music. They live up to their band name though, since a Yowie is a mythical creature, akin to a sasquatch/bigfoot type creature. And their first album "cryptooology" hints towards that. It's in the title. Dummy.
Now, where do i begin to try and explain the sound of this band. Well, i can give a visual representation of what this band might sound to someone not known with all there is to offer within math rock or is totally unknown to it:
Do you get it? No? how about this?
still don't get it? Don't worry, you and the general audience and even seasoned math rock buttfeasters won't understand. But i am going to be the first to say that this band represents everything rock music stands for. And i don't just mean noise rock, Math rock or experimental rock. But all of it. And explain why i love this band so much. And of course. at the end of this i'll throw down some sick links so you can become a sick cunt too.
Now, lets begin with Cryptooology. The bands debut release, back in 2004. While not much is known about this band other than a guitarist being involved is in a bigger, more known band within the genre. But, this isn't about that shit. The only technical things there are to say about it is that it's released in 2004 on Skin Graft records. And oh yeah, it's fucking batshit insane. If you are someone who values structure even in math rock then you will absolutely loathe this. There is no song structure. It's super fast, ultra violent, noisy as fuck, confusing math rock that blew my mind the first time i heard it (which was back in 2010). Now, what else is there to say about it? You like chaos in your music? You like dissonance? Well, my friend. Maybe this release might soothe your needs for something so eclectic and chaotic and so unknown to even the genres bigger fans that even they will go out of their way to say this band is absolute shit. But trust me, Math rock fans are huge picky dorks. But not as bad as black metal fans. You think Zach Hill, Greg Saunier or Brian Chippendale are sick drummers? Bruh, you haven't heard this absolute descent into madness. Sure, it ain't no Buddy Rich we are talking about here but god damn it if this isn't some of the more spectacular drumming i have heard in contemporary experimental rock music in recent years.
Their sophomore release, Damning with faint praise, isn't much of a different listening experience than Cryptooology, but holy shit. It's still absolutely insane. Albeit the sound is a pinch (and i mean a very minuscule pinch) more refined and clean. It's the same utterly insane and fast experience you heard on their last album. But still it doesn't seem to get old. For some reason this album is critically a tad more accepted. But still a lot of elitst dipshit snobbos will probably call this even worse than their first album. But for real fuck those people.
Now, why would i say this band represents rock music? Well, in a world where people place classic dad rock bands on pedestals, with infinite praise and constant admiration. A lot of utterly obscure bands get overlooked. Even though some of those bands might carry a sound so unknown and alien that the world just doesn't understand. But it's bands like these that push the envelope on genres already rather unknown to the known that deserve a little bit of recognition, at least some praise. For the simple fact that it's breaking the invisible rules within music that people so dearly hold on to. who knows, in ten years time, some williamsburg asshole might find Yowie in a second hand store on CD, rip off the sound and be considered a "revolutionary". It's happened in the past. And it's unfair that bands like these often get viewed as nothing more than a mere joke or just "garbage" by contemporary snobs who can't stop jerking off over abbey road and sticky fingers (beach boys way better fuck you classic rock asswads) and it's labels like Jade Tree, Loaded, In The Red, Sacred Bones and Skin Graft records trying to put these bands on the map. There are so many iterations within the genres. Yet we will only pick out the ones with the most sta rpower or accessibility. A lot of people on aggregate review sites often compared yowie's works to a more faster version of Captain Beefheart's classic Trout Mask Replica without vocals, and even more violent within the delivery of it's sound.
I have come to love this band. I really do, unironically, love this band. And it's significance, even though it's been over 10 years since Cryptooology came out, and 3 years since Damning with faint praise, The band is still as divisive as ever. But I think over time, much like Trout Mask Replica, it will become a more widely accepted album. It's ahead of it's time i suppose. And even how cheesy that may sound. The one thing i can say about the band is that the sound is earnest. Not forced. You can't emulate this kind of sound. This is an ultimately very unique listening experience. And if you want to delve into what i would like to describe as "Transcedental madness within sound" or just want to expand your horizons, I highly recommend you give this a listen. It might be a bit rocky to get into at first, but after a few listen throughs, you might understand what i am trying to say. That, or you'll loathe it. But hey, different strokes for different folks.
If you like this you might like: Staer, Bygones, Zach hill/hella, Grand Ulena...
Cryptooology (2004)
Damning with faint praise (2012)
As usual, if the links are dead, hit me up, i'll pop them on my own mega account.
Genre: Eclectic Math Rock/noise rock/ spazzcore.
Release 2004 & 2012 on Skin Graft records.
Talking about this band is really one of the more difficult things i have done in my time doing this forum and these threads in particular. There is virtually no information on the band. And only having 2 full length albums and a split release, makes this more of a personal recollection rather than a more researched review. But even reviewing might seem a bit of a challenge, for Yowie might be one of the most difficult bands to describe in any aspect.
Yowie is technically a math rock outfit that started around 2004 if we are going purely on their discography. Most of their release (i.e. All of them) have pretty much been overseen by even the more obscure music review sites and blogs. Even though, Skin Graft records, is a somewhat known name within the noise/alt scene. It's still remains a mystery how this band is overlooked. And people who know the band are extremely divisive within the bands position in the realm of noise rock, math rock, or even experimental music. They live up to their band name though, since a Yowie is a mythical creature, akin to a sasquatch/bigfoot type creature. And their first album "cryptooology" hints towards that. It's in the title. Dummy.
Now, where do i begin to try and explain the sound of this band. Well, i can give a visual representation of what this band might sound to someone not known with all there is to offer within math rock or is totally unknown to it:
Do you get it? No? how about this?
still don't get it? Don't worry, you and the general audience and even seasoned math rock buttfeasters won't understand. But i am going to be the first to say that this band represents everything rock music stands for. And i don't just mean noise rock, Math rock or experimental rock. But all of it. And explain why i love this band so much. And of course. at the end of this i'll throw down some sick links so you can become a sick cunt too.
Now, lets begin with Cryptooology. The bands debut release, back in 2004. While not much is known about this band other than a guitarist being involved is in a bigger, more known band within the genre. But, this isn't about that shit. The only technical things there are to say about it is that it's released in 2004 on Skin Graft records. And oh yeah, it's fucking batshit insane. If you are someone who values structure even in math rock then you will absolutely loathe this. There is no song structure. It's super fast, ultra violent, noisy as fuck, confusing math rock that blew my mind the first time i heard it (which was back in 2010). Now, what else is there to say about it? You like chaos in your music? You like dissonance? Well, my friend. Maybe this release might soothe your needs for something so eclectic and chaotic and so unknown to even the genres bigger fans that even they will go out of their way to say this band is absolute shit. But trust me, Math rock fans are huge picky dorks. But not as bad as black metal fans. You think Zach Hill, Greg Saunier or Brian Chippendale are sick drummers? Bruh, you haven't heard this absolute descent into madness. Sure, it ain't no Buddy Rich we are talking about here but god damn it if this isn't some of the more spectacular drumming i have heard in contemporary experimental rock music in recent years.
Their sophomore release, Damning with faint praise, isn't much of a different listening experience than Cryptooology, but holy shit. It's still absolutely insane. Albeit the sound is a pinch (and i mean a very minuscule pinch) more refined and clean. It's the same utterly insane and fast experience you heard on their last album. But still it doesn't seem to get old. For some reason this album is critically a tad more accepted. But still a lot of elitst dipshit snobbos will probably call this even worse than their first album. But for real fuck those people.
Now, why would i say this band represents rock music? Well, in a world where people place classic dad rock bands on pedestals, with infinite praise and constant admiration. A lot of utterly obscure bands get overlooked. Even though some of those bands might carry a sound so unknown and alien that the world just doesn't understand. But it's bands like these that push the envelope on genres already rather unknown to the known that deserve a little bit of recognition, at least some praise. For the simple fact that it's breaking the invisible rules within music that people so dearly hold on to. who knows, in ten years time, some williamsburg asshole might find Yowie in a second hand store on CD, rip off the sound and be considered a "revolutionary". It's happened in the past. And it's unfair that bands like these often get viewed as nothing more than a mere joke or just "garbage" by contemporary snobs who can't stop jerking off over abbey road and sticky fingers (beach boys way better fuck you classic rock asswads) and it's labels like Jade Tree, Loaded, In The Red, Sacred Bones and Skin Graft records trying to put these bands on the map. There are so many iterations within the genres. Yet we will only pick out the ones with the most sta rpower or accessibility. A lot of people on aggregate review sites often compared yowie's works to a more faster version of Captain Beefheart's classic Trout Mask Replica without vocals, and even more violent within the delivery of it's sound.
I have come to love this band. I really do, unironically, love this band. And it's significance, even though it's been over 10 years since Cryptooology came out, and 3 years since Damning with faint praise, The band is still as divisive as ever. But I think over time, much like Trout Mask Replica, it will become a more widely accepted album. It's ahead of it's time i suppose. And even how cheesy that may sound. The one thing i can say about the band is that the sound is earnest. Not forced. You can't emulate this kind of sound. This is an ultimately very unique listening experience. And if you want to delve into what i would like to describe as "Transcedental madness within sound" or just want to expand your horizons, I highly recommend you give this a listen. It might be a bit rocky to get into at first, but after a few listen throughs, you might understand what i am trying to say. That, or you'll loathe it. But hey, different strokes for different folks.
If you like this you might like: Staer, Bygones, Zach hill/hella, Grand Ulena...
Cryptooology (2004)
https://mega.co.nz/#!Yw1U1RLQ!FuUIA0AUWCUDKahrC2PblQGWUcNJJp21Mefdth6MGPI
Damning with faint praise (2012)
https://mega.co.nz/#!28MmSSza!8m57ZXYB8aM8I-i8yLnlBkvmNy92gaRw8Ov-ZNTVNywAs usual, if the links are dead, hit me up, i'll pop them on my own mega account.
