Dirty Three - Ocean Songs (1998)

Besides being consummate musicians; Warren Ellis, Mick Turner and Jim White craft a sincere emotionality unlike no other, all without the use of words. Masters of their respective instruments (violin, guitar and drums) this Australian trio was founded in Melbourne in 1992 after the classically trained Ellis found being a schoolteacher to be a bit much. Attaching a guitar pickup to his violin... the story writes itself.

This may not be the consensus pick among fans as their best, but it's my favorite- as are most things with a nautical theme. Enjoy one of the most unique bands in music today, stuck somewhere between post-rock, slowcore and traditional folk...

Dirty Three - Ocean Songs (1998; Touch And Go Records)

Galaxie 500 - On Fire (1989)

I don't know if Galaxie 500 can be credited with starting the slowcore movement, but they did more for its early development than anyone else. I think it was their intention to be an eighties version of The Velvet Underground; at least in the Velvet's quieter moments (think their 1969 self-titled album, the one with Pale Blue Eyes and I'm Set Free). Hey, if you're gonna copy someone, copy the best, right?

Shimmering and wave-like guitars set over slinky and growling bass lines locked into a steady drum beat; that's the Galaxie 500 sound that everyone after tried to copy as well; some got it right (Low, et al) and some didn't. But the fact remains that Galaxie was an awesome band, never trying to confuse the listener with tempo changes and stops and starts; just pop music slowed down enough to be covered in a sweet molasses glaze.

This is the 1997 Rykodisc re-issued remaster with three bonus tracks...

Galaxie 500 - On Fire (1989; Rough Trade Records)

Hood - Structured Disasters (1996)

Hood's Structured Disasters is a compilation of some of their early stuff, pre-'96. If you're not familiar with Hood, they're a Leeds (UK) based lo-fi/post-rock/IDM/slowcore/shoegaze band that caught my attention for their collaboration work with Oakland's Doseone and Why? (for Hood's 2001 album Cold House).

This record is basically lots of 4-track recorded stuff; un-mastered, un-mixed, very lo-fi. Maybe intended to never see the light of day? I really like it, it sounds like stuff I record on my 4-track.

Check out the tape hiss...

Hood - Structured Disasters (1996; Happy Go Lucky Records)

Low - Things We Lost in The Fire (2001)

This is what cold and barren Midwestern loneliness sounds like...

Low - Things We Lost In The Fire (2001; Kranky Records)