We Are The Night Sky Empire: South African Post-Rock

WHAT IS POST-ROCK?

Very little people in South Africa are familiar with music known as ‘post-rock’. Post-rock is a sub-genre of alternative rock and progressive rock which, in the words of music writer Simon Reynolds, uses "rock instrumentation for non-rock purposes, using guitars as facilitators of timbres and textures rather than riffs and powerchords."

Reynolds is believed to have coined the term back in 1994 and it became frequently used to categorise a loose movement of bands in the early 90s who took influence from a wide range of styles – from jazz and experimental, to electronica and Krautrock, to the shoegazing movement of the late 80s/early 90s. These bands are now considered more as pioneers than style representatives as the post-rock genre began to define itself, notably in 1996, when Tortoise released their second album “Millions Now Living Will Never Die” giving way to other post-rock bands of the late 90s such as Mogwai, Sigur Rós and Godspeed You Black Emperor! (now Godspeed You! Black Emperor).

This inspired much of today’s post-rock sound which is mainly instrumental with moods and textures. Traits include ambient guitars, repetition and build-ups, driving rhythms, atmospheric leads, lengthy compositions, and use of soundscapes.

In the early 2000s, just like other musical genres, the term became a bit insufficient and disliked by musicians and artists alike. It became misused as people would classify bands with little in common as post-rock because of the simple fact that they were instrumental. But, despite criticism of the term, more and more bands such as Explosions in the Sky, This Will Destroy You, Do Make Say Think, Pelican, and Mono are emerging in popularity today. They explore new realms and diversify the genre while maintaining the fundamental principles of the post-rock movement.

POST-ROCK IN SOUTH AFRICA

In South Africa, there are very few bands that play this genre of music, and, as said before, many don’t like to classify their music as post-rock. However, in my personal opinion, I believe there is a small list of bands in South Africa that, in some way, use typical post-rock elements in their music. As with all music, everything is a reinterpretation of themes and motifs used in the past.

The South African bands listed below are all great in their own right and it is very exciting for one to think about how they will influence the music scene in South Africa in the future.

Albinobeach

Art Rock Instrumental
Johannesburg

http://www.myspace.com/albinobeach
http://www.facebook.com/albinobeach