Drowned in Sound Festivals

Search



Godspeed You
no votes
?
by Ralph Cowling
5 Tracks? Over 74 minutes of music?

That’ll be Godspeed You! Black Emperor then. (Note the stifling name change from Godspeed You Black Emperor! To Godspeed You! Bla… notice the change? Like musical spot the difference isn’t it? Revolution in an exclamation mark).

It almost goes without saying: this record is gorgeous, in every way. Deeply progressive and wonderfully dramatic soundscapes, created with musical romanticism and the original stylistic panache that Godspeed continue to develop with creative seniority.

Chilling at times, as it immerses you deeply into unfathomable epic locations, with violin quivers constantly shimmering against slow, pounding orchestral and synthesised cinematic overtones. If music is a building, then Godspeed You! Is a huge, twisting, overawing edifice that slowly makes your heart ready to burst.

If not for the music, the record is worth buying for the cover art and its message(s) alone. Flying Kittens and the ‘Hammer of Hope’, ‘Three rockets falling on rocket falls’ and a deeply critical analysis into the infrastructure of today’s major record industries and their affiliates.

In all, mesmerising, relevant and utterly essential.

  • Godspeed You! Black Emperor 10 / 10

Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Yanqui U.X.O.

hmmm. let's face it. it's the same as anything they've ever released previously. yeah, mesmering soundscapes, yeah, tumultous cresendos, yeah, politically-tinged audio excerpts and title-referencing. but in no way have they progressed, in no way have they made their next exhilirating step on from the incredible debut and the 'Slow Riot' ep ('skinny fists'- yeah, pretty. but depressingly samey). at one time this band were completely unique and challenging to the very idea of what can (or should) constitute musical approach. now they're horribly stagnant and utterly predictable. bor-ing.

Re: Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Yanqui U.X.O.

Yeah... "Slow Riot" took the sound to its logical conclusion, and "Skinny Fists" was just a pointlessly protracted re-hash of everything else they'd done.

I reckon they should bring in a free jazz influence, possibly using Spanish trumpets. Or maybe get a singer...

Re: Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Yanqui U.X.O.

they already used spanish trumpets on the first album (track 3). duh.

Re: Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Yanqui U.X.O.

Hey dude, name change. Obviously changed!! heheh, yeah but seriously, they are pretty good, and have a fanbase based on what they're good at, they have done a lot of different stuff. This is less like, Cocteau Twins.

Re: Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Yanqui U.X.O.

I know, that's why I suggested them. It was the jazz idea that was important: something like John Coltrane's more avant-garde stuff, fused with their current style. It would rule.

Re: Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Yanqui U.X.O.

Check out the new Jackie-O Motherfucker, it's diametrically very similar, but y'know, different group, different sound.

Re: Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Yanqui U.X.O.

You jaded, cynical, capricious motherfuckers!

Just because a band sounds like itself doesn't mean there's stagnation going on. How many times did you listen to it before you realised that you were bored with them now?

Your're familiar with the way they sound now; of course it's not going to be as instantly thrilling as the first time you heard them. They were unique, and now you know the gameplan but it's like you're punishing them for being unique in the first place. Give the fuckers a chance!

Re: Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Yanqui U.X.O.

Didn't they do that in the Silver Mt. Zion Orchestra?

PS DONT BUY ANY OF THEIR ALBUMS BECAUSE ITS A CUNNING PLOY TO GET YOU TO PURCHASE THE SAME RECORD WITH A DIFFERENT FANCY CASE. ALSO: SILVER MT. ZION WILL KILL YOU WITH THEIR RELENTLESS DEPRESSIVE "OH NO MY CATS DEAD" NESS. BLESS.

Re: Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Yanqui U.X.O.

I really liked He Has Left Us... actually. I think there's way more experimentation in it than a normal GYBE album (to be expected I suppose) and a couple of the tracks I ain't so keen on, like the one where the guy sings (track 4 is it?) but some of them are really good - I think t's track 3 with the weird sounding violins? That's ones ace any ways.

Re: Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Yanqui U.X.O.

I think the award of full marks to this album was a knee-jerk reaction from your reviewer. there is no comparison to any of the band's older material which suggests to me that your man may not be an authority on the suject.

why should i trust his opinion when a publication like pitchforkmedia.com offers me an intellgient dissection of the very same album, penned by a writer whose knowledge i respect?

Re: Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Yanqui U.X.O.

You really expect the opinions of Pitchfork Media? They're absolutely infuriating! I swear they're just there to try to prove their own writing skills rather than be helpful to a possible customer.

But I can see why many people don't like Yanqui UXO anyway, it doesn't sound much like their earlier work. It's strangely like a rock album in the sense that the ambience of f#a#? is gone (possibly due in part to the recording of Steve Albini, who for the record also did "Wake Up Screaming" by F-Minus). But f#a#?'s stop/start nature the and slightly more tentative sound of Skinny Fists flaws their beauty more than that of Yanqui UXO to me, which is why it is my favourite of the three albums.

Re: Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Yanqui U.X.O.

You really expect the opinions of Pitchfork Media? They're absolutely infuriating! I swear they're just there to try to prove their own writing skills rather than be helpful to a possible customer.

But I can see why many people don't like Yanqui UXO anyway, it doesn't sound much like their earlier work. It's strangely like a rock album in the sense that the ambience of f#a#? is gone (possibly due in part to the recording of Steve Albini, who for the record also did "Wake Up Screaming" by F-Minus). But f#a#?'s stop/start nature the and slightly more tentative sound of Skinny Fists flaws their beauty more than that of Yanqui UXO to me, which is why it is my favourite of the three albums.

Gthis album is bad

this album is bad

Godspeed You Black Emperor! - Yanqui U.X.O.

grrr... i went out and got this and it's such a let down. it's as boring as mogwai... really expected more. bet i can't even take it back now it's out of the plastic..grrrr!!

Re: Godspeed You Black Emperor! - Yanqui U.X.O.

Haven't heard it yet myself, but was wondering if it's at all like the older material if you've heard it? Or is the first Godspeed cd you've heard?

Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Yanqui U.X.O.

Great stuff.

Maybe a little to sophisticated emotionally for the American McDonald going ear or one who needs ritalin.

Bottomline.... This album does an incredible amount for me. Passionate, intense, builds, different, and expressive. I expect nothing from them but this style.... If they do it again, I am not looking for an upgrade like a new computer.... art is not about upgrades.... I am interested in feeling the soul of this project.




© DrownedinSound.com | From the Archive - Glastonbury: three DiSsers, some booze and hella mud...