What is it?
An umbrella term for a plethora of bands making drum-heavy, long-form instrumental rock music characterised by dynamic volume and tempo shifts. The term was first applied in the early '90s but didn't come into popular usage until the mid-'90s with bands like Tortoise and Mogwai.
Who's doing it?
Slint, Tortoise, Mogwai, Explosions In the Sky, Do Make Say Think, Don Caballero, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Sigur Rós.
Where should I start?
Start with the key influencers — Slint's seminal Spiderland and Talk Talk's game-changing masterpiece Spirit Of Eden, then Mogwai's Ten Rapid compilation, Explosions In The Sky's Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever and Do Make Say Think's Goodbye Enemy Airship the Landlord Is Dead.
What's next?
GY!BE winning this year's Polaris has proven that the genre isn't dead. Its influence can also be heard in many contemporary bands, such as Marbeya Sound, Panico and Hejira.
An umbrella term for a plethora of bands making drum-heavy, long-form instrumental rock music characterised by dynamic volume and tempo shifts. The term was first applied in the early '90s but didn't come into popular usage until the mid-'90s with bands like Tortoise and Mogwai.
Who's doing it?
Slint, Tortoise, Mogwai, Explosions In the Sky, Do Make Say Think, Don Caballero, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Sigur Rós.
Where should I start?
Start with the key influencers — Slint's seminal Spiderland and Talk Talk's game-changing masterpiece Spirit Of Eden, then Mogwai's Ten Rapid compilation, Explosions In The Sky's Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever and Do Make Say Think's Goodbye Enemy Airship the Landlord Is Dead.
What's next?
GY!BE winning this year's Polaris has proven that the genre isn't dead. Its influence can also be heard in many contemporary bands, such as Marbeya Sound, Panico and Hejira.