


Godspeed You! Black Emperor


Post Rock/Math rock

4.10 | 359 ratings

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Prog Reviewer
5 stars The post-rock group of the new century. The herald of the apocalypse. The odd instrumental nine-piece from Canada who doesn't write their songs in a list but MAPS them in the liner notes. In less words, AMAZING.

I bought this album as a result of sheer curiosity. The name of the album is what first caught my eye. "What the %#@?!" was most people's response when I told them about it. Their nonconformity amazes me. Their album defines the sad fall of western civilization to hypocrisy. The liner notes are strange, and funnily enough have a picture of a punk band which isn't them on there! Talk about rejection of the "stage persona"! The music itself is mapped on the liner notes in a cryptic way. It indicates where each movement begins and ends, but I think it is lying to me. It says that the "Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven" movement ends at 5:30 on track one when it really ends at 6:58 or so.

Anyways, the "Storm" is great. The hopeful encouragement of the title movement gives way to the strange constantly climaxing "Gathering Storm," which fades out into the dark, wet streets of a highway mini-mart and its sounds. Then it drifts down the apocalypse avenue in "Cancer Towers on Holy Road Hi-Way" and its radio tower sadness.

"Static" is another winner. "Terrible Canyons of Static" is pretty nice, and the atomic clock/chart #3 part is strange because of the religious ramblings in the background and the static feel. Then "World Police and Friendly Fire" builds into a rallying crescendo, which is effectively torn down by the post-apocalyptic sounds of "The Buildings they are Sleeping Now." This one has the sound of metal creaking and twisting as skeletons of skyscrapers burn down slowly after a nuclear war. It reminds me of the novel, "The Last Book in the Universe."

"Sleep" begins with the nostalgic ramblings of an old man remembering his days of sleeping on coney island. The constantly climaxing "monheim" rushes afterward, leaving behind a strange humming noise which once sounded like a female vocal section to lead into the calmer and dreamy "Broken Windows, Locks of Love."

Finally we come to "Antennas to Heaven." It starts with a weird bluesy "Baby-O" tune which is swept away by the rushing "Edgyswingsetacid" which in turn gives way to the glockenspiel thing after a mere minute. The most annoying part of this Cd is the "mon- ami fa la la la..." thing after this part. It seems entirely pointless, and it is the only lowpoint of the album. Thankfully the "bulldozer" part takes over for the major part of the song and "Deathkamp Drone" follows it inconspicuously. Then the hopeful reprise "Antennas to Heaven" closes it.

For some reason, the fourth track of the album seems less intense and more ambient. This is not bad, however, and is a welcome difference. The first track is sadder, the second very mixed, and the third more intense. This album is highly recommended for the curious and the nonconformist.

penguindf12 | 5/5 |






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