Labels: Constellation – Kranky
Review by: Nadia Almashoor
Another reason for me to get a flight ticket to Canada.
Believe the hype as you read or hear them. Believe all those monstrous words they say. How they rave in such uncontrollable manner about this 9 piece ensemble. Believe them I tell you.
And it is no exception upon seeing their latest “rockage” presented over a course of 90 minutes. As how my favourite rock journalist, Anthony Carew, puts it. “Godspeed You Black Emperor! make epic music with such epic intent on such an epic scale that it proclaims its own greatness as each note rings out of your speakers.” And he keeps using the word epic too. Oh come on, just look at that name. Would you think they’d dish out a 90 second frenzied yelping thrash? Of course not. (or almost, maybe.)
Side One kicks off with beautiful twinkles slowly accompanied by strings and the pounding percussion spiralling into a bewildering orchestraic experience. Perfect for your Christmas morning. Perfect to put on that video of The Nutcracker. While it’s reverse side depicts puppetry of the horror world. Mostly dominated by violins, it’s scary. Disturbing. Uncomfortable.
Side Three starts off with some spoken word. Weaving in yet more fine instrumentation. Dancing their way in with more obvious guitar work. Desparing, depressing yet angry, ferocious and almost ridiculous. Adding to the confusion that somehow glimmers off unexpectedly. Expectedly.
So GYBE! say this is their stanza. Their last stanza dedicated to quiet refusals. Loud refusals and sad refusals. Dedicated to every prisoner in the world. To the wet empty streets at dawn.
And with this, I lower my head and lift my skinny fists like antennas to heaven.