Three songs totaling three-quarter hours. That’s a scenario you’d expect from masterful instrumental acts like Godspeed You! Black Emperor or early electronic geniuses like Klaus Schulze. In a way, on Aerial Roots CJ Boyd channels both artists. He has the instrumental aspects of the former and the minimalist drone of the later. “Everytime I Don The Ski Mask” mixes various loops and, for the most part, maintains a delicate balance between complex minimalism and meditative consistency. Aerial Roots is an expansive aural state of being …

Dub and DIY punk are gaining in momentum, a natural progression of the fuzzed out pop that’s been inundating the indie airwaves. The new album, Bell Ord Forrest, by Kansas City dub-noise duo I Love You fits this classification. With an angst-generating array of synth melodies and tripped-out production, the album opens with an undeniable pinnacle, “The Colloquialism Is Simply ‘Gas’”. As the song dives into the repetitive closing synth and bass lines, one is treated to a drone of greatness.

What a strange batch of Greek inspired gypsies Hermit Thrushes appear to be. Their alt-pop/folk is as intriguing as a businessman at Hempfest. And their slightly obtuse yet captivating sophomore release Slight Fountain crosses forward and backwards between obscurity and acoustic purity. Their songs are short in length, but not in passion. A true testament to all confusing folk developers everywhere.

Joyful Noise is set to release yet another great album this year, this time by fellow Indiana band Marmoset. Contrary to what you’d expect from a label titled Joyful Noise, the collective of artists rarely warrants the “noise” label. And Marmoset follows suit; their music instead clashes modern garage rock sensibilities with the hazy garage rock of the 60s and 70s.

They call it Joyful Noise, and while the title is fit for an LP, it’s not the name of Hi Red Center‘s latest release. No, that was dubbed Assemble and it can be found on the record label of that name: Joyful Noise Recordings. It sure fits; Hi Red Center’s music is a bit out there, with wild guitars, barbershop quartet-like compounded vocals, and seemingly randomness when it comes to instrumentation, these guys have a very interesting but equally refreshing sound.