Night Sky Empire Demo EP

 We have released all our demos online...

You can download a zip-file HERE

Free download via MediaFire (only 46mb)

High-quality MP3s (320kbps)

You can also listen and download the tracks via our Soundcloud page

Demo EP by Night Sky Empire is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 South Africa License.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://www.nightskyempire.withtank.com/contact-us.

NEWS: End of an Empire

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the end of Night Sky Empire.

Since Harry's departure in February 2011, Thato and Cale continued to write new material while looking for a bass player. After an unsuccessful search, and a few months hiatus, they have decided to focus on new and future projects.

We would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone that supported us. All the bands, organisers, family and friends. We are so grateful for everything.

See you later

NSE

All our demo recordings will be released online.

As soon as the EP is up we'll share the download link.

We will also be sharing video footage on  

our YouTube channel over the next few months.

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 

Bateleur

Post Triassic

Cape Town

http://www.myspace.com/bateleurr
http://www.facebook.com/bateleurband

Download 'Mountain' 3-track


BATELEUR THANKS,INDIA from nicokrijno on Vimeo.


Eyes Like Mirrors

Post- Rock/ Experimental
Johannesburg

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



Side projects:

Lemuria

http://www.myspace.com/lemuriaquiet

http://www.facebook.com/Lemuriabliss

Download 'Lemuria' EP, 2008

On Travel

http://www.myspace.com/ontravel

Kidofdoom

Psychedelic / Electro / Rock

Pretoria

http://www.kidofdoom.co.za
http://www.myspace.com/kidofdoom
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/kidofdoom/7541330893



Tale of the Son
 

Noisy Instrumental Soundscapes

Pretoria

http://www.myspace.com/taleoftheson

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tale-of-the-Son/93887721959

The Ocean Doesn't Want Me

post-whatever/ambient/metal/noise

Pretoria

http://www.theoceandoesntwantme.com
http://www.myspace.com/theoceandoesntwantme
http://www.facebook.com/TheOceanDoesntWantMe


Us Kids Know

Tweepoop/Shoehaze/Mathgoth

Johannesburg

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

Download 'Friendship Test' EP, 2009




We Set Sail

instrumental post rock/1+2 shoegaze

Cape Town

http://www.facebook.com/wesetsailcapetown


We Set Sail - Wash from We Set Sail on Vimeo.

____________________________________________________

More on Post-rock music:

Post-Rock Genre Profile by Anthony Carew, About.com Guide

POST ROCK/MATH ROCK, A Progressive Rock Sub-genre, from Progarchives.com

Post rock: A movement of the 90s, still kickin'by Ian Weinberger

The Post-Rock Phenomenon (Originally written for the Utne Reader), July 1996 by Scot Hacker

What Is Post-Rock by Postrockxchange.com

What is Post Rock by Postrocking.com

All Music: Post-rock

Post-rock on Wikipedia.org

NEWS: To bass or not to bass

Our bassist, Harry, has decided to pursue his passion for guitar and will not be playing in Night Sky Empire anymore. We wish him all the best for his future endeavors and look forward to hearing the great music that he will make in the time to come.

A very special thanks to Harry for his contribution and 

all the work he did for Night Sky Empire.

Thato and I are now looking for a new bass player for the band. If anyone is interested or knows of a good, experienced, reliable bassist then please send us a message.

Email us at: nightskyempire@gmail.com or call

082-510-0026 (Cale) or 078-061-2418 (Thato)

We look forward to writing some new songs and can't wait to get back on stage.
Some new recordings are almost mixed and you shall hear them soon.

Afrika South Rhizomatics

AfrikAs0:u:+h rhiz0mA+iks is the brain child of Isadora Dustmite Junk.

It is a unique collective that is deemed to do some great things.

 In their own words,

'AfrikAs0:u:+h rhiz0mA+iks
is for everyone
who has a sound
to comunicate
but no means
with which to do it.
we will provide
the platform nessecary
to obtain that means.

we are working
on putting together
unique compilations
of independent
experimental\explorative sounds
by artists from the afrikasouth.'

They released their first compilation last year:

version 1.0
introduction:
to sys+(e)ms 0f s0:u:nds

The first volume features
independent experimental music

by artists from South Africa

(to them; the afrikasouth).

* READ MORE HERE *

 Tracklisting:

1. Sticky Antlers - Slownine (5.06)
2. Benguela - Translation (7.41)
3. Machette Jacobite - Left Difficulty (5.39)
4. Bride Reunion - Clandestine Carnivore (4.28)
5. Marco - For Klimek (3.22)
6. VBI - Green Square Market (3.46)
7. Suicycle - Song To Hum no. 11 (4.51)
8. Nikhil Singh - Nagasaki Nikita (4.02)
9. Asqus - Mid-Atlantic 2007 (pt. 1) (2.55)
10. Stenchworm - Anxiety Attack (1.17)
11. Isadora Dustmite Junk - Revision: howto save yourown life (3.51)
12. Retarded Dance Squad - Topsecret GBC megamix (10.18)
13. Ms. Skidd - 2nd Movement: Opus I Diabolus In Musica (5.07)
14. Cartoon Chaoss - (e)xtrAct (e)M0ti0N (2.29)
15. Facecontrol - The First Thing You Should Say (5.15)
16. The Crackpot Realist - Afrikan Junk (3.21)
17. Righard Kapp - Anechoic Dialect (3.14)
18. Summoning The Plauge - Knifefight (3.07)
19. Howell and Starcke - Sparse Jungle (8.38)

  * LISTEN TO THE COMPILATION HERE * 

or alternatively, HERE

.

AfrikAs0:u:+h rhiz0mA+iks are hunting more content for their future releases.

They want unique creators from all mediums
including independent media and independent record labels.

Feel free to contribute to this amazing adventure:

isadoradustmitejunk@gmail.com

____________________________________________________________________________

Cartoon Chaoss

Our very own, Thato Knox is
Cartoon Chaoss.

This is his other project where he produces ambient electronica & drum 'n bass.


As the name suggests, Cartoon Chaoss is
what it is - An enigmatic journey where
both thoughts and emotions are expressed in music.

Find more artists like Cartoon Chaos at Myspace Music