Burning Building, 2010

It’s taken me a while to get around to writing this one, as I’ve been struggling to think of a good way to convey how Post Harbor’s sophomore full-length is different (and better) than the majority of the post rock crowd. It’s still post rock, just very good. And diverse. And adventurous. With some electronic stuff. And plenty of atmospherics and patient climactic progressions… like post rock. Oh just give it a listen already.

Kscope, 2010

The Liverpool sextet’s first album in seven years provides some lovely atmospheric prog-rock in which to douse our senses. It sounds as if they’ve had some kind of spiritual revelation in those intervening years, the sixty minutes adopting an inspirational charge to its emotional expanses, and the shared male / female vocals floating around like ethereal gurus. It’s a touch new-agey then, but also stirring and meticulously-crafted.

Monotreme, 2010

The powerful and mournful vocals of Elizabeth Heaton immediately take central stage here, bringing to mind Beth Gibbons of Portishead. Her voice is well suited to the lush atmospheric rock behind it, created by ponderous and gently melodic guitars, and some subtle electronic touches. The Scottish quintet’s debut only suffers from sticking a little to rigidly to the same formula.