Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
65DaysofStatic. The Destruction of Small Ideas. 2007. 3 stars.
A lively and intricate post-rock album, The Destruction of Small Ideas has the UK’s 65DaysofStatic taking their math rock stylings and pushing them into new and interesting directions. Rather than delving into the soft-loud, slow burn dynamics of other post rock bands like Mogwai and Explosions in the Sky, 65Days opt for more spastic and immediate exercises, weaving technical and complex guitar work with hammering piano lines, synth-stings and electronica-tinged drum beats a la Venetian Snares.
While most of the music discussed on this blog is heavy, dark and alternative, its worthwhile to take a step back and enjoy some genuine, laid back classics. Gordon Lightfoot is easily one of Canada’s greatest musical exports, who, just like his fellow countrymen Neil Young and Leonard Cohen, helped shape the conventions of popular folk music. Even in his elder years, the man can still perform brilliantly, breathing new meaning into his now legendary body of work.
Powerful black metal from the forests of Romania, Negura Bunget offer a tour de force of the genre, incorporating folk, thrash and progressive rock styles into a cohesive and atmospheric whole. The songs are epic and devastating, with hefty doses of aggression and intelligence, with great attention to detail and mood. The drumming is incredibly fast and fluid, providing a sonic field for the intense growling vocals (they’re in Romanian, so I don’t understand them), ethereal synth passages and wiry guitar lines.
This video, set to Ulver’s “Blinded by Blood”, showcases the haunting work of renowned Swiss artist HR Giger, who’s disturbing bio-mechanical imagery caught worldwide attention after he designed the creatures and sets for the Alien series. The hellish figures and threatening mechanical landscapes match beautifully with Ulver’s ambient and ghostly compositions. Giger remains one of the greatest surrealists, combining science fiction and horror elements in his fantastical visions, inspiring artists across different mediums and revolutionizing the aesthetics of science fiction.
Earth. The Bees Made Honey in the Lion’s Skull. 2008. 3.5 stars.
This is music for stoned, post-apocalyptic cowboys, like the Mad Max set, but more relaxed and pining for a peyote journey. The influential and experimental Earth, who revolutionized stoner rock with the minimalist drones of 2, return to the doomed Western landscapes they began exploring with 2005’s Hex. The jams here are slow, heavy and hypnotic, luring you with its steady, slithering bass grooves and catatonic drumming. The mood they establish is introspective and sedative, nudging you into an ancient and primal feelings.
This weekend I had the pleasure of attending Video Games Live at Massey Hall where a full orchestra and choir played through some of the most acclaimed video game soundtracks in the history of the industry. Yes, I admit, it was an incredibly nerdy experience, but a nostalgic one as well, as it beautifully conveyed the musical artistry that has emerged through the relatively young medium. If you have a favorite game, chances are these guys covered it last night. Mario, Metal Gear, Sonic, Final Fantasy, Zelda, Halo, God of War and even Pong were among the highlights. The ensemble has toured the world, so check out their site to see when they’re coming to your home town.
While on the ride home from work today, I was drifting off to sleep with the post-rock band Labradford playing on my iPod. It was a strange experience to say to least, having the sunlight splatter shifting colors behind my eyelids while the haunting ambiance set in. While partially asleep, I could still hear the jangling guitar and soothing drones weave in and out, as my body slipped into some subdued state of paralysis. When I got home, I found this strange video and it seemed to capture the mood. This song is from their debut album Prazision.
New York City’s Vampire Weekend are riding a wave of critical praise and industry hype, having secured acclaim across many popular music blogs and a Letterman appearance, its no surprise that they have sleeper hit on their hands. So what is everyone getting riled up about? It probably has to do with the relaxed vibe and afro-beat rhythms sported by their self-titled debut, bringing some summery warmth to an otherwise dull and dreary time of year.
Japan’s psychedelic masters return to the fray with their newest LP Smile to be released on Southern Lord on April 29th. The label will also release a 7” single for “Statement” which will also feature the B-side “Floorshaker” on February 26. If their last collaboration album with Merzbow was any indication, Smile is going to be a massive, blistering record.
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