Our post on BASECAMP earlier this week must have whet our ears for moody, slightly off-kilter soundscapes, because they were totally primed when we listened to “Monolith” by Realms. There’s a similar bass-heavy tension to the album, and tracks like “Progress” have kindred slow, unnerving builds that resonate like a frozen lake cracking underfoot. Realms is a trio consisting of Josh Pantana, David Gross and Graham Blecher, who built their startling chemistry over five years of acting as studio band for several Nashville acts (including Andrew Bell and Neulore.) “Monolith” is the first stand-alone effort as Realms, recorded over the course of a year in their home studio and officially released March 10th. Check out opening track "Dinosaurs" to see if it hits you in a sweet spot. If you’re a fan of Sigur Ros, Radiohead, or strikingly pretty atmospheric experimentation, then this album is worth checking out. –Terra James-Jura
