Duster was a San Jose-based lo-fi indie rock band from the late 90's that consisted of multi-instrumentalists Clay Parton, Canaan Dove Amber, and Jason Albertini. Their music has been described as "slowcore", "space rock", and shoegaze, all of which seem like accurate descriptions of their style. It's very sensual, atmospheric music that some may find unconventional.

A little walk through their discography here: Stratosphere, their 1998 debut full-length is a cult classic among fans of this niche of music. It indeed sounds like the stratosphere; not quite in space, but certainly up in the clouds. More impressive is that it actually sounds like it, it's not just trying to string together some concept lyrically. In fact, I should get out of the way now that Duster's vocals are nearly always so low in the mix that a full song can't be deciphered. Stratosphere is the longest and most varied release of Duster's main discography: "Reed to Hillsborough" and ""Heading For The Door" are addicting indie rock tunes, "The Landing" and "The Queen of Hearts" darker and lonelier in sound. "Stratosphere", the title track, is a 7-minute drone piece and one of the most beautiful soundscapes ever recorded. Interspersed between the bulk of the record are short interludes of various moods or noise. Of Duster's discography, Stratosphere is the most overwhelming and unusual, but also the most interesting and successful. (It's also fantastic airplane music, hint hint frequent travellers)

Their career continued on with the EP 1975 the following year. This release, aside from the electronic-influenced opening track "Irato", is quieter and more subdued, with more of an ambient sound as a whole than anything Duster had released. It's a short but blissful and relaxing 24 minute listen.

2000 saw Duster's last release, Contemporary Movement, which continues the more fuzzy lo-fi indie rock sound shown on some of Stratosphere's. It's probably the most easily digestible Duster listen for the average guy, but also lends itself to a lot less replay. "Get The Dutch" and "Cooking" are the two standouts here, the former an ominous slow-builder with blunt, scathingly smart lyrics and the latter an addicting lighthearted jam, though every track here serves its purpose and none stick out awkwardly like some tracks on their earlier discography might.

After Duster's dissolution at the start of the century, Albertini went on to form Helvetia, while Parton and Amber run the recording studio Low Earth Orbit. Parton also plays drums for El Buzzard and records solo under the name Eiafuawn.

I really hope some of you check these guys out. Their music is absolutely phenomenal and I've jammed them a lot over the last year or so but have had almost no one to share the enthusiasm with.

Look at me just moseying by.

Will check them out doe.

Sounds like my kind of band. I'll check them out.

They aren't too bad Yatahaze, thanks for introducing them to me! I am just finishing the 1975 EP as I am writing this, I have enjoyed what I have heard so far, I will surely be listening to more of their martial in the coming days

Glad you liked it, dude. And ye, I think you'd like them, Neige. Dunno if they'd be up Solace's alley but I of course still recommend giving them a go. /o/