Is it possible for instrumental music to blow your mind, or does it just blow ass.

[Nate The Great]

I just bought Pelican 'Australasia', and let me tell you IT IS DAMN GOOD. It is probably the best instrumental album I own, and I've only had for a few hours. Another great instrumental album from this year is Dysrythmia. However, Pelican is totally awesome. It's not "insane" or "sick" or "grim" (and that's what I normally like). It's just plan kick ass. Imagine Kyuss, Isis, and 5ive all playing instrumental rock/metal together.

What instrumental bands/albums does everybody else hail?

 

[J.]

I'm not big on instrumentals. Waaaaaaaaaay back in the day (probably junior high) I owned some Satriani and thought it was pretty good.

Nowadays, the only instrumental band I have is 5ive, and I enjoy their stuff.

 

[HarmonyDies....]

Alot of Post-Rock I like, and Jazz.

 

[Nate The Great]

You might really like Pelican HarmonyDies . . . .

And Dreamlord you will really like Pelican. I normally don't like instrumental stuff, but Isis is mostly instrumental, Kyuss had a lot of instrumental stuff, and 5ive is completely instrumental. Imagine the best parts of those bands in one band. Pelican rules.

 

[NAD]

Vocals are generally the most useless musician in any given band (other than a boring bassist that is), so yes, instrumentals can most certainly blow my mind.

Conversely, vocals are also generally the most soulful and human element to a band, so it's a bit of a double edge sword.

There are a lot of groups I listen to with minimal to zero vocals, mostly fusion, jazz, electronic, and progressive stuff.

"Singers come from Planet Singer."
--Robert Fripp

 

[Nate The Great]

You should also check out Pelican NAD.

 

[NAD]

You have too many bands for me to check out.

 

[Demonspell]

As a devoted follower of progressive rock, I find it strange that this question even needs to be asked...but npearce is right in saying that Dysrhythmia and Pelican kick serious arse.

 

[HarmonyDies....]

I'm checking out Pelican as we speak.

 

[Shakermaker]

There's some excellent instrumental Jazz out there. I'll definitely check thos Pelican guys out.

 

[lizard]

it's not strictly an instrumental album, but some of the instrumental passages in Kayo Dot - Choirs of the Eye are alternately dissonant and beautiful.

 

[Ayeka]

5ive are a terrible old boy band. What the hell are you lot banging on about?

The only instrumental album I have is Focus 3, which I ain't listened to for fucking ages but remember being cool hope the verse of Latin and yodelling don't void the instrumental part though

 

[Nate The Great]

5ive are a terrible old boy band. What the hell are you lot banging on about?

5ive is also the name of an instrumental psychedelic noisecore band in the USA. They only have guitar and drums, but the guitar is tuned way down and he pans back and forth on the low notes constantly. So the bass is actually quite heavy throughout.

 

[Ayeka]

I wonder if I'll ever be able to take them seriously with that name

 

[Hell Mike]

If instrumental songs count there certainly are lots of great ones, I don't think I own any instrumental albums but vocals are just one part of the music, often important but not essential.

 

[J.]

5ive is now known as 5ive's Continuum Research Project

 

[bloodfiredeath]

I don't think I could listen to an album that didn't have any vocals. It would drive me nuts.

 

[JayKeeley]

Other than PJ, has anyone else heard "Far Beyond the Sun" and "Icarus Dream Suite Opus 14" by Yngwie Malmsteen? They're from his debut, and really really quite astonishing, even by today's standards. 'Tis what put him on the map I guess.

I was just listening to them so I thought I'd bump the thread.

 

[Ayeka]

Dug out my Malmsteen tape...yeah, it's that album, but I don't remember those songs as I found the entire album rather tedious...

 

[J.]

Late bloomer here, but Australasia is just beautiful. I've been playing it nonstop. Those guys can jam. Highly recommended from me.