Friday, August 3, 2007

Post-rock is one of the most contentious terms to emerge in the music scene in recent history. Musicians and critics alike still utter the term in quotation marks, preceding it with “dare I say” and “so-called” or suffixing it with “whatever that is”.

The earliest bands to be assigned the label rejected it vehemently, and nowadays there’s still an air of elitism and disdain for it from the emerging acts and from other areas of the music industry. In fact, there's so much confusion about this particular genre, it's worth asking, what the fuck is “post-rock” anyway?

Mac Nguyen is a senior writer for The Silent Ballet, an online publication covering the global instrumental music scene.

The term “post-rock” was coined by a British music journalist named Simon Reynolds who used it to describe the delicate, unconventional use of rock instrumentation to develop vast, enveloping soundscapes on Hex, an album released in 1994 by British experimentalists Bark Psychosis. The critique conceived not just a term, but a notion that largely revised the traditional utilisation of rock instrumentation. Glasgow’s Mogwai, one of the first “post-rock” bands, were spawn by the progressive, convention-defying mentality, and not surprisingly reacted strongly to the idea that they could possibly be pigeonholed by this label—something they, as non-traditionalists, were trying to avoid from the very outset. It was largely an ego thing, fuelled by the desire to be as unique and different and as difficult to define as possible, that way ensuring their isolation from anything else, especially that which resembled popular music.

Bands that emerged around the early stages of post-rock in the mid to late nineties sounded nothing alike, so it was somewhat bizarre that they could be referenced collectively by this one term. Montreal’s Godspeed You! Black Emperor were gloomy and highly textured, the aforementioned Mogwai tense and volatile, and Chicago’s Tortoise endowed with a jazzier, experimental edge. Recent and comparatively popular post-rock bands have expanded the scope of the genre further: Austin’s Explosions in the Sky employ Mogwai’s guitar-driven quiet-loud method of playing but emphasise the emotional dynamics through multiple layers of melody, while Reykjavik, Iceland’s Sigur Rós prefer an expansive and orchestral approach.

The fact that each band sounded worlds apart from the next says something about the term’s analogously unconventional application. It wasn’t about the stylistic factor; there was something else that united these bands: they were all essentially deconstructing the traditional form of rock and rock instrumentation and reapplying it to forms more closely resembling minimalist and classical composition. Post-rock has been said to be the conduit between the artistry of classical and the accessibility of rock. It was almost like using rock against itself, against the popular music doctrine.

The one other significant and defining facet was that bands assigned the post-rock label were generally instrumental, another characteristic that would further remove it from the grasps of convention. Lyrical exclusion wasn’t entirely a conscious decision for the most part, nor was it necessarily a coincidence. The minimalist and experimental compositional styles, which consisted of drawn out lengths (we’re talking ten to 20 minutes) to the point where some pieces were more considered “movements”, meant that an instrumental dominance seemed only natural. A point commonly stressed is that post-rock is not strictly instrumental, in that vocals can still be present, but not necessarily at the vanguard. Sigur Rós are the group arguably most notable for their instrumentalised vocals, as are Mogwai whose vocals are usually drowned in reverb.

Recent movements in post-rock have again slowly shifted the genre away from these initial defining characteristics. Bands are now writing pieces of shorter and more accessible length, and the drone-driven vocal presence is transforming back to proper lyrically-driven singing. The original breaking of rock convention has suddenly reverted back to rock convention, so how does it remain post-rock? The stylistic similarities have somewhat become the defining element now, contrary to the past. Testament to the genre’s refusal to adopt convention is its preference to turn back to conventional composition rather than allow trends in the genre itself to form new conventions.

As convoluted as fuck as that explanation is, this is not a result of any control over the term by musicians and critics, but more so the lack of. Its immaturity is a major cause for its nebulous nature. Even now, most people don’t really know what post-rock is exactly, this writer included. Two things I can say with a modest degree of certainty are that the genre is resultant of a common philosophical approach to music, rather than technical or aesthetics, and that it is definitely witnessing growth, not just in scope but geographically. Post-rock is growing in popularity amongst musicians, critics and listeners throughout all parts of the world. Even the cultural derivations of post-rock by region are evident: North America and the UK oversee a substantial rock influence, while the rest of Europe seems partial to electronica. Australia draws heavily on all aspects, and Melbourne especially is on the verge of an inundation of talented post-rock acts which draw their inspiration on a global scale. For the genre, it really is only just the beginning.

22 things other people have said:

Anonymous said...

Hey Mac,

Great article. Short and sweet. I probably have no more idea about what post-rock is than I did beforehand, but I certainly feel like less of an idiot for not knowing. Thanks.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Hello. This post is likeable, and your blog is very interesting, congratulations :-). I will add in my blogroll =). If possible gives a last there on my blog, it is about the Fragmentadora de Papel, I hope you enjoy. The address is http://fragmentadora-de-papel.blogspot.com. A hug.

Mary Shelley Overdrive said...

Sorry to go the "spam" route, but I didn't see an e-mail address on your blog.

Hideous Sexy is yet another pointless covers album from Mary Shelley Overdrive — available for FREE download. The EP is a collection of cover songs recorded during practice sessions, rehearsals, etc. during the recording of our (as yet untitled) LP.

Included on the album are covers of songs by Blue Oyster Cult, Antiseen, Black Flag, Devo, Bo Diddley, The White Stripes and The Vaselines, as well as an interpretation of the '60s Batman theme. No money should change hands for this album.

You can download Hideous Sexy here:
http://www.2shared.com/file/3363511/69b6ce66/Hideous_Sexy.html

(2Shared is a bit clunky, but we opted for this service because it allows us to track download numbers.)

You can find us online at www.myspace.com/maryshelleyoverdrive

Anonymous said...

Hi !.
You may , perhaps curious to know how one can make real money .
There is no need to invest much at first. You may begin to receive yields with as small sum of money as 20-100 dollars.

AimTrust is what you haven`t ever dreamt of such a chance to become rich
The company represents an offshore structure with advanced asset management technologies in production and delivery of pipes for oil and gas.

Its head office is in Panama with structures everywhere: In USA, Canada, Cyprus.
Do you want to become an affluent person?
That`s your choice That`s what you really need!

I`m happy and lucky, I began to take up income with the help of this company,
and I invite you to do the same. If it gets down to select a correct partner who uses your funds in a right way - that`s the AimTrust!.
I make 2G daily, and my first investment was 500 dollars only!
It`s easy to join , just click this link http://ulabusuhu.virtue.nu/utybev.html
and go! Let`s take our chance together to get rid of nastiness of the life

Anonymous said...

Good day, sun shines!
There have were times of troubles when I didn't know about opportunities of getting high yields on investments. I was a dump and downright pessimistic person.
I have never imagined that there weren't any need in big initial investment.
Nowadays, I'm happy and lucky , I started take up real money.
It's all about how to select a proper partner who uses your money in a right way - that is incorporate it in real business, parts and divides the income with me.

You can ask, if there are such firms? I have to answer the truth, YES, there are. Please be informed of one of them:
http://theinvestblog.com [url=http://theinvestblog.com]Online Investment Blog[/url]

Anonymous said...

Good day, sun shines!
There have were times of hardship when I felt unhappy missing knowledge about opportunities of getting high yields on investments. I was a dump and downright stupid person.
I have never imagined that there weren't any need in large initial investment.
Nowadays, I feel good, I begin take up real income.
It's all about how to choose a proper partner who uses your money in a right way - that is incorporate it in real deals, and shares the income with me.

You may get interested, if there are such firms? I have to answer the truth, YES, there are. Please get to know about one of them:
http://theinvestblog.com [url=http://theinvestblog.com]Online Investment Blog[/url]

Anonymous said...

[B]NZBsRus.com[/B]
Lose Crawling Downloads With NZB Downloads You Can Quickly Search High Quality Movies, PC Games, MP3s, Applications and Download Them @ Maxed Out Rates

[URL=http://www.nzbsrus.com][B]NZB Search[/B][/URL]

Anonymous said...

You could easily be making money online in the underground world of [URL=http://www.www.blackhatmoneymaker.com]blackhat[/URL], Don’t feel silly if you haven’t heard of it before. Blackhat marketing uses little-known or misunderstood avenues to build an income online.

Anonymous said...

top [url=http://www.c-online-casino.co.uk/]casino online[/url] hinder the latest [url=http://www.casinolasvegass.com/]las vegas casino[/url] manumitted no consign hand-out at the best [url=http://www.baywatchcasino.com/]online casino
[/url].

Anonymous said...

confidential frequency list ebook http://audiobookscollection.co.uk/Magill-s-Literary-Annual-2008-Essay-reviews-of-200-Outstanding-Books-Published-in-the-United-States-During-2007/p222636/ ebook master rights [url=http://audiobookscollection.co.uk/it/The-gospel-of-the-flying-spaghetti-monster/p118227/]buddha ebook[/url] lake toba ebook

Anonymous said...

the devil's butcher shop ebook http://audiobookscollection.co.uk/de/Can-You-Keep-a-Secret/p10386/ ebook reader nook review [url=http://audiobookscollection.co.uk/Text-Speech-and-Dialogue-6th-International-Conference-TSD-2003-Cesk-Budejovice-Czech-Republic-September-8-12-2003-Proceedings/p195816/]satellite communications 3rd edition ebook[/url] ebook download sites

Anonymous said...

brockmann princess ebook pdf http://audiobooksplanet.co.uk/Jan-Udris/m58048/ chaos ebook free [url=http://audiobooksplanet.co.uk/Insect-Pest-Management/p228369/]software gemstar ebook[/url] momentum trendtrader ebook download

Anonymous said...

t-640 software error http://buyoem.co.uk/it/product-37101/Alabe-Reports-Asteroid-Goddesses-1-2 tct software detroit [url=http://buyoem.co.uk/product-34597/Adobe-Creative-Suite-5-5-Production-Premium-MAC]computer software baseball[/url] palm pilot to do list software
[url=http://buyoem.co.uk/product-36580/Microsoft-Windows-7-Ultimate-x64-Danish]Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Danish - Software Store[/url] teleprompter software free download
[url=http://buyoem.co.uk/de/product-15950/Uninstaller-1-10-Mac][img]http://buyoem.co.uk/image/7.gif[/img][/url]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://www.casino-online.gd]casinos online[/url], also known as accepted casinos or Internet casinos, are online versions of routine ("chunk and mortar") casinos. Online casinos own gamblers to buy site in and wager on casino games from start to have a bite the Internet.
Online casinos habitually advance odds and payback percentages that are comparable to land-based casinos. Some online casinos denominate higher payback percentages in the harvest in forming of tense automobile games, and some bruit about payout strain audits on their websites. Assuming that the online casino is using an fittingly programmed unsystematic assorted generator, matter games like blackjack demand an established borderline edge. The payout carve up pursue of these games are established to the mean the rules of the game.
Uncounted online casinos rent not at cuttingly or obtain their software from companies like Microgaming, Realtime Gaming, Playtech, Broad Alternate way Technology and CryptoLogic Inc.

Anonymous said...

Outstanding story there. What occurred after?

Take care!

My blog post; legal ecstasy

Anonymous said...

[url=http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/rogaine-2-.htm][img]http://onlinemedistore.com/11.jpg[/img][/url]
wellpoint pharmacy http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/isoptin.htm christian pre pharmacy colleges [url=http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/cleocin-gel.htm]pharmacy station elkhorn wisconsin[/url]
eckerds pharmacy nj http://redbrickstore.co.uk/catalogue/l.htm wyandotte medical pharmacy windsor ontario canada [url=http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/dilantin.htm]dilantin[/url]
courts pharmacy http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/fosamax.htm target pharmacy dallas [url=http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/aciphex.htm]woodlane pharmacy new jersey[/url]
propecia pharmacy http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/advair-diskus.htm oklahoma pharmacy board [url=http://redbrickstore.co.uk/products/protonix.htm]protonix[/url]

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the marvelouѕ postіng! I гeally enjoyed гeadіng it, you сould be a greаt author.
I will alωays bookmark your blog and will
come back somеday. ӏ wаnt to encοurage
continue yοuг gгeat wоrk,
hаve a nice holiday weеkend!

my web blog ... premature ejaculation pills

Anonymous said...

Gooԁ day! I could have swοrn I've visited this site before but after going through a few of the articles I realized it's new to me.

Rеgardlesѕ, ӏ'm certainly delighted I stumbled upon it and I'll
be book-mаrking it and cheсking back οften!


my ωebsite :: premature ejaculation pills

Anonymous said...

[url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/zyloprim.htm][img]http://onlinemedistore.com/8.jpg[/img][/url]
target pharmacy ma http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/refer-a-friend.htm continuum care pharmacy barboursville west virginia [url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/coreg.htm]long term care pharmacy jobs[/url]
pharmacys on the internet http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/fincar.htm british online pharmacy [url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/suhagra.htm]suhagra[/url]
matthew dolan cvs pharmacy http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/categories/stop-smoking.htm pharmacy technician lapel pin [url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/contact.htm]mba for pharmacy students[/url]
pharmacy technical help contacts http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/depakote.htm johnsons pharmacy waltham [url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/retin-a-0-05-.htm]retin a 0 05 [/url]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/apcalis-oral-jelly.htm][img]http://onlinemedistore.com/8.jpg[/img][/url]
safe online pharmacy http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/reminyl.htm refills pharmacy order doctor consult show site fda [url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/diamox.htm]impact of the internet on future of pharmacy[/url]
pharmacy technician jewelry http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/sinequan.htm the cystic fibrosis pharmacy orlando florida [url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/singulair.htm]singulair[/url]
mayo clinic pharmacy http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/minocin.htm pharmacy technician online course [url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/yasmin.htm]mondello pharmacy boston[/url]
indiana ohio illinois online pharmacy http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/trental.htm garden city pharmacy [url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/azulfidine.htm]azulfidine[/url]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/abana.htm][img]http://onlinemedistore.com/12.jpg[/img][/url]
cvs pharmacy annual report http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/catalogue/j.htm pharmacy board webpage [url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/triphala.htm]pharmacy dicount for new customers[/url]
pharmacy technician employmnent rate new jersey http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/catalogue/d.htm pharmacy claritin [url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/coumadin.htm]coumadin[/url]
advantages of online pharmacy http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/brahmi.htm kaiser pharmacy escondido [url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/estrace.htm]pravachol aciphex aciphex health pharmacy[/url]
princing pharmacy saginaw http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/intagra.htm pain medication online pharmacy [url=http://englandpharmacy.co.uk/products/himcolin.htm]himcolin[/url]