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51. If Lucy Fell – You Make Me Nervous (2005)

With instantly recognisable dissonant, distorted thumps and squeals; screams and sentences spouted out lackadaisically; and a uniquely particular rhythmic malleability, If Lucy Fell were the first band dubbed math rock in Portugal. Their influence now runs deep in the Portuguese alternative rock and hardcore scenes (watch out for our next compilation), and their second record is also worth a listen, but nothing can match the raw and filthy perfection of You Make Me Nervous – a math rock classic that is sadly not widely available (although there are still a few tunes floating around YouTube). TM

52. charlottefield – how long are you staying (2005)

In early to mid-2000s U.K. if you wanted something dirty, bass-y, and on vinyl (at a time when the medium was supposedly dying out) you went to Jonson Family Records. They did Part Chimp, Blood Red Shoes, Hey Colossus, compilations of rather ace and off-centre stuff. They also brought us Charlottefield (on CD mind, the vinyl came from Unlabel who were also key in early U.K.-mathy). Charlottefield seem like the type of miserable seawords that’d balk at the label math rock but check out opener ‘Nine Tails’, that off kilter drumming, that meaty angular bass, that scratchy guitar…they were thinking Chicago for sure. AS

how long are you staying by charlottefield how long are you staying by charlottefield

53. Rosolina Mar – Before And After Dinner (2005)

It’s perhaps contentious as to whether this Italian trio is considered obscure, but it is fair to say that we are losing the monumental Before And After Dinner to the annals of time. A superb array of funky low-to-the-ground math rock that will have you bopping along to an odd time signature quicker than you think. This album is available for free download thanks to the exceedingly generous RobotRadio Records. NH

Before and After Dinner (RR03) by Rosolina Mar Before and After Dinner (RR03) by Rosolina Mar

54. Honey For Petzi – Man’s Rage with Black Ham (2005)





The early days for Swiss indie band Honey For Petzi were seated in instrumental math rock. Man’s Rage with Black Ham and Heal All Monsters are both stellar examples of the band’s prowess in this field. I tend to side with the former of these masterpieces, due to its angularity. The jangling guitar and lo-fi production also give this record a DIY garage-rock flavor (but its overwhelming creativity puts it on another level). NH

Man’s Rage with Black Ham by Honey For Petzi Man’s Rage with Black Ham by Honey For Petzi

55. I Am Above on the Left – An A-Bomb To Wake Up (2007)

A throwback to the noisier post-hardcore days of math rock, this fiery sophomore release by Russia’s I Am Above on the Left leaves a mighty bruise with its muddy bass and slack, distorted guitars. An A-Bomb To Wake Up moves from dissonant, sludgy breakdowns in the ‘the korova milk bar’ and ‘lucifer’s hammer’, to Ruins-style oddball jazzcore in tracks like ‘znedo’. Fans of Shellac and Big Black looking for a bit more bludgeon are encouraged to enquire within. NH

An a-bomb to wake up by I Am Above On The Left An a-bomb to wake up by I Am Above On The Left

56. Planets – Planets (2007)





Here’s another record that is insanely hard to track down (but not without some YouTube remnants). On par with the technical ingenuity of Hella and the compositional complexity of Tera Melos, these guys were one of the craziest NorCal math rock duos in the mid 2000’s, with Paul Slack (Swims) furiously shredding a bass like you’ve never heard before, and Thomas Crawford (Smiling) slamming it out like a maniac on the drums. A hugely under-appreciated band that deserves more recognition. Check out the rest of their TURBO JAMZ on Bandcamp and hit follow – maybe we can make them notice we need this album on there, too. TM

57. Gay Beast – Disrobics (2007)

Like some kind of fusion of DNA‘s no-fucks-given no-wave abrasiveness, the aforementioned Bad Dudes’ quirky synth-laden celebratory punchiness and Hella‘s spastic rhythms and adept compositional instrumentation from There’s No 666 in Outer Space (which actually came out the same year/month as this record) – Gay Beast are definitely from another dimension. Their whole discography is an incredibly special addition to the genre – with every single sound they create eventful and fascinating – and hopefully years from now, people will continue to be inspired by their queer awesomeness. TM

Disrobics by Gay Beast Disrobics by Gay Beast

58. O! the Joy – Zen Mode (2008)

Sometimes you’re looking for an album that will draw you in with catchy hooks yet still leave you absolutely puzzled. Zen Mode by Sacramento four-piece O! The Joy certainly hits those nails with its catchy vocal harmonies, frenetically tapped guitar lines, and complex lines of instrumentation (‘There Is No Such Thing As Organized Crime’ is a wow). Of course, this should all come as no surprise, considering that we are dealing with former members of Mister Metaphor. An excellent choice for those looking for some disjunctive fun but are easily swayed by the siren calls of pop. NH

Zen Mode by O! The Joy Zen Mode by O! The Joy

59. Aucan – Aucan (2008)

In some circles, Aucan may be described as Italy’s answer to Battles, with their reliance on quirky keys and synths to enhance their instrumental rock. One may listen to Aucan’s wonderfully executed self-titled full-length and immediately hear elements of Battles’ Mirrored and their myriad of EPs. Is there anything that sets the band apart from their more popular adversary? Not really. Which is why you’ll love ’em. NH