It was supposed to arrive in one package together with Causa Sui's "From the Source" and a reissue of Brainticket's 1972 classic "Psychonaut", but after several delays a certain German distributor canceled my pre-order of the new Gnod album, just when it already started to become rare and/or expensive. Luckily it was still available at the source - Rocket Recordings. With international shipping there was no way around paying more, so I chose another album to accompany it, so it would at least feel a little more economically reasonable- and as a little gift of good karma I also got a new slipmat on top.
Since I also chose a very complimenting pairing of albums I think I'm quite happy with the whole outcome now.
Since I also chose a very complimenting pairing of albums I think I'm quite happy with the whole outcome now.
GOAT - The Gallows Pole: Original Score (Molten Metal Colour vinyl LP + 7") (2024)
I didn't review "Medicine", last year's most recent studio album by the Swedish Psych collective Goat here - not because it was bad (which it isn't at all), but just because I came too late to the party. Resisting the temptation to sneak in another review here, let's just say it was a noticeable deviation from what the group has established as their signature sound.
Or so you would have thought at the time, because this one here also strays into different directions, maybe even further, while still keeping the original Goat path in sight.
"The Gallows Pole - This Valley Will Rise" is a (probably historic) TV series about... something. I'd actually like to watch it without knowing what exactly to expect, that's why I'm not looking it up. I just hope it will appear outside of the BBC on a streaming service I'm using in the foreseeable future.
This is the score to the series, in a very nice Record Store Day special edition, which comes with two bonus tracks on an additional 7" record. If we're being pedantic only five of the overall eight tracks are actually from the soundtrack, while the rest is material from the same sessions, which just hasn't been used on the show.
The album is completely instrumental, so especially the characteristic harmonies of the two female singers is missing. You also won't find much of the Funk and Jazz Fusion spirit, which was so prevalent on "Oh Death" two years ago. Except in the misleading track title "Jazzman" of course, which rather seems to be based on an Archive style Trip Hop beat.
And "The Gallows Pole" takes a lot of time to even get to that point of a full Rock band instrumentation. Most of the A side is instead dominated by synth and guitar drones, airy flutes and acoustic guitar, all exuding a tastefully mystical, not overdone Folk flair.
The B side opener "The Gate Is Open (The Temple Lies Within)" finally shows us Goat in their typical, more maximalist form with loads of tribal percussions, primal energy and free spirit, before "Vallåt" slows the album down again with minimal percussive Ambient sounds, which are continued in "Goat Witch", where it works as a backdrop to an atmospheric guitar build-up.
We're switching to the bonus single now and "Timeless Awareness" surprises us with full-on Space Rock including multiple layered lead guitars and some reverb-drenched vocals, which don't really count, when it comes to determining whether this really is an instrumental album or not.
Last but not least "Kampsång" returns combines tribal drumming, Krautrock guitars, Folk flute and - oh, look we found some after all! - a Spiritual Jazz bass line to a wholesome jam, which ends way too soon.
While most Goat albums feel like a rather loose collection of rad tunes with a similar vibe, "The Gallows Pole" with its set of individually very different tracks may lack the same consistency of style, but actually builds a nice suspense curve. I'm really enjoying this beautiful thing.
Or so you would have thought at the time, because this one here also strays into different directions, maybe even further, while still keeping the original Goat path in sight.
"The Gallows Pole - This Valley Will Rise" is a (probably historic) TV series about... something. I'd actually like to watch it without knowing what exactly to expect, that's why I'm not looking it up. I just hope it will appear outside of the BBC on a streaming service I'm using in the foreseeable future.
This is the score to the series, in a very nice Record Store Day special edition, which comes with two bonus tracks on an additional 7" record. If we're being pedantic only five of the overall eight tracks are actually from the soundtrack, while the rest is material from the same sessions, which just hasn't been used on the show.
The album is completely instrumental, so especially the characteristic harmonies of the two female singers is missing. You also won't find much of the Funk and Jazz Fusion spirit, which was so prevalent on "Oh Death" two years ago. Except in the misleading track title "Jazzman" of course, which rather seems to be based on an Archive style Trip Hop beat.
And "The Gallows Pole" takes a lot of time to even get to that point of a full Rock band instrumentation. Most of the A side is instead dominated by synth and guitar drones, airy flutes and acoustic guitar, all exuding a tastefully mystical, not overdone Folk flair.
The B side opener "The Gate Is Open (The Temple Lies Within)" finally shows us Goat in their typical, more maximalist form with loads of tribal percussions, primal energy and free spirit, before "Vallåt" slows the album down again with minimal percussive Ambient sounds, which are continued in "Goat Witch", where it works as a backdrop to an atmospheric guitar build-up.
We're switching to the bonus single now and "Timeless Awareness" surprises us with full-on Space Rock including multiple layered lead guitars and some reverb-drenched vocals, which don't really count, when it comes to determining whether this really is an instrumental album or not.
Last but not least "Kampsång" returns combines tribal drumming, Krautrock guitars, Folk flute and - oh, look we found some after all! - a Spiritual Jazz bass line to a wholesome jam, which ends way too soon.
While most Goat albums feel like a rather loose collection of rad tunes with a similar vibe, "The Gallows Pole" with its set of individually very different tracks may lack the same consistency of style, but actually builds a nice suspense curve. I'm really enjoying this beautiful thing.
GNOD - Spot Land (Violet vinyl LP) (2024)
Political, harsh, rebellious, agitative, loud... and a lot more adjectives in a similar direction come to mind when you look at most of Gnod's work since I got to know them, which was in 2017 with the iconically to the point "Just Say No To The Psycho Right-Wing Capitalist Fascist Industrial Death Machine".
But of course there's one trait you always have to keep in mind with this English collective, and that's their unpredictability. Their new album is a dreamy, enraptured, sometimes downright escapist experience. While there are sprinkles like the Kraturock rhythm of "Dream On", which remind us of the roots of the band, a lot of it feels soothing and Ambient with emphases on synths, samples, lap steel guitar, piano and kalimba, while the longer pieces increase to legit Psychedelic Rock jams.
There's no lyrical message, as most of it is purely instrumental, only the opener "Peace At Home" and the final longtrack "Pilgrim's Progress" feature sampled Gregorian chants.
Wherever you can find your "Spot Land", it is an intentionally solitary retreat from the gnawing unrest of the world. And while the whole idea is so totally different, ironically an absolutely fitting alternative album title would be... "Just Say No To The Psycho Right-Wing Capitalist Fascist Industrial Death Machine". Because if you immerse yourself into this freeing splash of colours (I love the vivid cover artwork!) - aren't you doing just that?
My only complaint is that I woud have loved a little more than forty minutes. Other than that, yeah, this introspective dream state version of Gnod is a very welcome departure!
But of course there's one trait you always have to keep in mind with this English collective, and that's their unpredictability. Their new album is a dreamy, enraptured, sometimes downright escapist experience. While there are sprinkles like the Kraturock rhythm of "Dream On", which remind us of the roots of the band, a lot of it feels soothing and Ambient with emphases on synths, samples, lap steel guitar, piano and kalimba, while the longer pieces increase to legit Psychedelic Rock jams.
There's no lyrical message, as most of it is purely instrumental, only the opener "Peace At Home" and the final longtrack "Pilgrim's Progress" feature sampled Gregorian chants.
Wherever you can find your "Spot Land", it is an intentionally solitary retreat from the gnawing unrest of the world. And while the whole idea is so totally different, ironically an absolutely fitting alternative album title would be... "Just Say No To The Psycho Right-Wing Capitalist Fascist Industrial Death Machine". Because if you immerse yourself into this freeing splash of colours (I love the vivid cover artwork!) - aren't you doing just that?
My only complaint is that I woud have loved a little more than forty minutes. Other than that, yeah, this introspective dream state version of Gnod is a very welcome departure!
Keine Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen