At The Listenr, we don’t typically like genre labels, but math rock might be one of the worst genre labels I’ve ever come across. Evoking images of complexity, rigidity, and an intellectual stuffiness, it’s not hard to see why people don’t want to explore it. The truth is, the genre is full of the same DIY ethos that allows punk to make and remake itself over and over again. The best contributors to the scene have made it their own, and it’s this spirit that has drawn me to artist after artist in the genre.
Math rock has roots in the progressive rock and post-hardcore scenes. The core tenants of each of these movements are so philosophically opposed that when they come together they sit in contrapose. The progressive influence slants it towards execution focused compositions in idiosyncratic time signatures. The hardcore influence manifests in performance, freedom, and personal expression.
The List:
More Skin WIth Milk-Mouth by Giraffes? Giraffes!
This EP is dense and short. The production is clean and it slants a bit in the prog direction, but its energetic delivery delivers a punk undercurrent.
Tight, claustrophobia inducing arpeggios lead into vistas of loose expression or serenity. This tight to loose, anxious to serene cycle repeats over and over again across the short, sub 30 minute run time.
T H E by tricot
This all female group from Japan brings a bit of a J-pop sensibility to their vocals, but they still keep things feeling loose and performance based. The have a pretty deep discography, but their debut full length album is bursting with an unforgettable energy.
The energy is full of forward momentum and soaring vocals. The math rock chops here could be smuggled past you at times and it feels like they weren’t specifically setting out to make something in the genre, but the chops are here.
Mirrored by Battles
I would forgive you if you only ever heard the lead off single from this classic in the genre. In the early days of recommendation engines like Pandora, that single was pushed on me pretty heavily. However, the first time I heard the albums lead off track “Race : In,” I knew the album had a lot more going on.
More than a decade on, the mid 2000’s highly polished prog rock sound has come to be a vibe unto itself. This album manages to perfectly capture that sound, while still letting it’s freak flag fly with its pitched vocals and licks that turn on a dime.
No Drum and Bass in the Jazz Room by Clever Girl
Clever Girl formed in 2009, released one EP, then disbanded. Over a decade later, it still looms large over the genre in my mind. It is simultaneously light and dense, free and disciplined. If I had to pick one project to distill the list down to, this would probably be it.
The performances on this EP are confident. The production is minimal. It’s a tincture of high execution musicianship.
American Football (AKA LP 1) by American Football
It’s impossible to dispute this album’s influence. American Football self describes as an emo band, in a time when a lot of bands were rejecting that label in favor of the post-hardcore label.
Their self titled debut, or LP1 (as it has come to be known as since they released it’s follow up 17 years later), exists as a point of origin for a lot of other artists. Existing on its own logic and merit, this album somehow exists within the hardcore genre while subverting its form.
Imminently listenable, and a delightful hang, LP1 isn’t trying to wow you with it’s technical chops. You’ll still find plenty while you’re in it’s warm embrace.
Angle by Elephant Gym
Ok, I’m giving you another debut album. There are a lot of them on this list, and I don’t have a very strong reason to pick this over other albums by Elephant Gym.
This Taiwanese group feels like an embodiment of the genre, and their debut project has just maintained a pretty standard place in my rotation on and off for many years.
Elephant gym is incredibly consistent, with incredible chops and clean production.
Bright Green Field by Squid
This British rock band has a noisy slant to them, and a number of people find the vocalist’s barking delivery to be pretty divisive. I personally love all of it.
It’s intricate guitar licks layered over and under unusual grooves. It’s dancing without a care in a room of sharp points.
I’ve heard them compared to REM just because their singers voice, but their style stands very much apart.
the book about my idle plot on a vague anxiety by toe
I love all the groups I’ve put on this list, but toe is probably my favorite. There isn’t really a bad place to start with them, with their most recently album “Hear You” being an excellent release. However, their debut really stands out as one of the best examples of genre.
The energy on this album swings effortlessly between intensity and calm in a way I have often compared to a breathing exercise. With some of the best drum work you’ll find anywhere, the rest of the band weaves over and under each other effortlessly.
Hold Your Horse Is by Hella
Comprised of only two members: Spencer Seim and Zach Hill, Hella is a an exercise in minimalist minimalism. These two throw every ounce of themselves into you musically, and then have the confidence not to over produce the result.
Hella did eventually go on to fill out a full band and produce the excellent “There is no 66 in outer space,” this earlier work really encapsulates what they’re all about to me. The fact that they returned to being a duo for their final album “Tripper” all but tells me that they agree.
Both members of the duo would go on to other projects and explore other sounds, Hella still leaves a lasting imprint on math rock.
Schlagenheim by Black Midi
Black Midi never cleanly fits the math rock label, with their later releases developing their sound further from it. However, their is a healthy dose of math rock at the core of the musical sensibilities that drive this band.
Tracks like Western and Ducter exemplify what I go to this genre for. This album can play in the dirt and get up clean. Exploding in to cacophonous and layered jams that emerge into open spaces.
Theatrical, subversive, and razor sharp.
