Merchants Of Air
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Albums
    • Concerts
  • Premieres
  • Interviews
  • Giveaways
  • Playlists
  • Shop
    • Merchants Of Air releases
  • About us
    • About Us
    • Writers Wanted
    • Logos and banner
    • Advertise
    • Mailinglist

Songs With Stories - Stratosphere

12/6/2016

Comments

 
Picture
Picture
THE METAL DECK, a moshpit of cards. Order now: http://www.analochgames.com/
Belgium sure has its drone and ambient talents, often armed with a guitar and a rack of effects. In fact, Stratosphere created his inspiring guitar drones and soundscapes before people like Dirk Serries would start using the guitar. At least, that's what I heard during a conversation between Ronald Mariën, Dirk Serries and myself. I met them at the most recent edition of Dunk! Festival and I loved Stratosphere's new album 'Rise' (read review). So I couldn't resists asking Ronald for his Songs With Stories, and here they are...

Tool - Schism

How can one describe Tool... actually, I don't think that's possible. They're a style on their own. The fully drawn out story-lines thatall songs actually are, just have to be listened to in their entirety. That's why so many Tool songs are long, but they're never too long. Unique about Tool is the build-up of the atmosphere. Dark, threatening, yet melodic and harmonic. And the ingenious drums by Danny Carey aren't really lightly digestible. Adam Jones' genius isn't limited to just the guitars. This and Jones' visuals make every performance by Tool unique. And you can never predict what Maynard James Keenan is up to this time. So yes, this about sums up why Tool is so unique.
Cocteau Twins - Blind Dumb Deaf

I love repetitive music. There are so many artists and genres to choose from, but for me this song by the Cocteau Twins is number one. Sometimes the build-up is very fascinating, but in Blind Dumb Deaf it's just the repetition that makes it unique and catching, together with the dark atmosphere and the quirky vocals by Elizabeth Fraser. Later Cocteau Twins albums, which I appreciate very much too, are more dreamy, atmospheric and melodic. For me they're a big influence. In the nineties (at least, I think it was the nineties) I had the luck to see them live at AB, Brussels. I'll never forget that concert. The tape recorder in the centre as drum track, but certainly Robin Guthrie on guitars, were a revelation for me. Also Guthrie's later solo work is really my cup of tea. No surprise here...
And So I Watch You From Afar - The Voiceless

The energy and power radiated by this band is unbelievable, both live and recorded. I've seen them performing live a few times, and every time it's like a bomb exploding from the first note on. An unnameable, unstoppable train. Impossible to remain standing still. I can only guess how these guys pull it off! And yet, that's what they do. They're also very down-to-earth, very humble and extremely grateful to their fans. The repetitiveness of this track is what appeals to me, like you could have guessed. So if you get the chance to see them perform live, don't hesitate.
Kraftwerk - Numbers

Ralf Hütter and his gang are not only one of the greatest pioneers of electronic music, bur for me these Germans have been a starting point of musical exploration. Stratosphere started off as a synthesiser project, and that's where Kraftwerk has played an important part. Not by copying them, but by creating atmosphere. For me the right atmosphere, no matter the genre, is a key point. Being able to create emotion through electronics... Trans Europe Express in its entirety is a nice example of this. And again, the repetitive aspect is strongly present. Actually it's hard for me to choose just one Kraftwerk track, but Numbers (and preferably the German version Nummern) is one of my favourites.
Autechre - Gantz Graf

Mostly they're loners: Aphex Twin, Squarepusher, ... but for me the duo Rob Brown and Sean Booth take it a step forward. Their first album, Amber from 1994, is quite easily digestible, but that changed quickly. The chaos these guys produce is otherworldly. Could they be aliens? I want to believe... Seriously now, because this is actually the case. How do they do it? Every song is different, every album is innovatory. Every time I look forward to what they'll come up with now that's never been done before. And that's exactly what intrigues me enormously. Being able to renew yourself in that way, it makes me jealous. So the magnet for me is theunpredictability of Autechre.
This Will Destroy You - Communal Blood

From their first album 'Young Mountain' on, it was clear for me that This Will Destroy You wouldn't remain a typical post-rock band. Clearly they're the misfit in their genre. Then they wrote 'Tunnel Blanket', a total experience. A masterpiece that they've equalled with 'Another Language' but couldn't outdo. The atmosphere in this album is great too, and especially 'Communal Blood'. There are so many great post-rock bands, but unfortunately a lot of them tap from the same barrel. This Will Destroy You chose another brewage: a tripel! The masters of dark atmosphere tend to play in the darkness, which only benefits that atmosphere. What they do is, again, unique. And, again, the same rule goes up for live and recordings. Inspiring!
Comments
    subscribe to our newsletter

    Bands

    All
    30.000 Monkies
    A Cunning Man
    Aidan Baker
    Alice In The Cities
    AlNamrood
    Angelina Yershova
    Arnwald
    Ashtoreth
    A Swarm Of The Sun
    Autokrator
    Barst
    Bismuth
    Bittered
    Blame Kandinsky
    Bliksem
    Cathubodua
    Cecilia::Eyes
    Cowboys And Aliens
    Dö
    Drawn Into Descent
    Dunk!Festival
    Emptiness
    From The Vastland
    Gamardah Fungus
    Glasgow Coma Scale
    Heron
    James Welburn
    Meadowlake
    Merchants Of Air Crew
    Mixtaped Monk
    Monnik
    Nested
    Ode To The Quiet
    Post-Poned
    René Aquarius
    Sardonis
    Songs With Stories
    Stratosphere
    Stringmodulator
    Talvihorros
    The Great Kat
    Thisquietarmy
    Throw Me In The Crater
    Tomas Järmyr
    Toner Low
    Wayward Bound
    Witch Trail
    Zeit

    Archives

    April 2020
    November 2019
    September 2018
    May 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015

    Foto
    This is just something we made to get your attention so while we have it, why don't you click the banner and visit our shop? We got some nice stuff over there and you'd be supporting us as writers and artists.

Find us on

facebook
google+
twitter
tumblr
​
minds

About Us

Contact
FAQ
Logos and banners
© COPYRIGHT 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.