Godspeed You Black Emperor!
Slow Riot For New Zero Kanada
Kranky, P.O. Box 578743, Chicago, IL 60657
Release Date: April, 1999
This new 30 minute ep from Montreal's most mysterious nine-piece collective isn't much of a departure from the turbulent ebb and flow of their first full-length, f# a# (infinity). Electric guitars, strings and dueling drums build into an anthemic mass, which touches on the epic western soundscapes of Ennio Morricone, neo-classical restraint of Rachels and the rhythmic urgency of The Ex. At times these Canucks even approach King Crimson's analog grandiosity -- circa "In the Court of the Crimson King" -- minus any residual prog noodling; their melodies are straight and direct.
The only real problem here is that GSYBE!'s application of found sound/spoken word tapes layered over their compositions sounds a little formulaic the second time around. Or maybe it's just that the guy they chose to record this time is annoying.
-- Brent Burton
info@outersound.com
