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Godspeed You! Black Emperor - G_d's Pee AT STATE'S END! CD (album) cover

G_D'S PEE AT STATE'S END!

Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Post Rock/Math rock


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siLLy puPPy
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR
PSIKE, JRF/Canterbury, P Metal, Eclectic
4 stars GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR may not have invented post-rock but i'd be hard pressed to find another band that has taken the genre to the limits that this Quebec band has done. For all the Mogwai clones, Bark Psychosis wannabes and Slint worshippers in the mix, nothing really compares to the transcendental recordings that GODSPEED has so successfully forged for over two decades now and for me personally it's always a beacon of light to hear that this excellent band has returned to unleash yet another apocalyptic instrumental display of epic post-rock that continues the style laid down so very long ago.

Emerging just in time for Easter 2021 after a weary planet has grown ever so fatigued by a decaying world of corruption, disease and economic collapse, GODSPEED's music has never sounded so relevant as a soundtrack to the planet upon which we reside and the newest edition of the band's maestrohood comes to us in the form of G_d's Pee AT STATE'S END! which pretty much resonates in the awesomeness that we have come to know as GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR with that instantly addictive post-rock cyclical journey accompanied by chamber rock, drones, slow building tensions that result in phenomenal crescendoes and of course freaky sounding field recordings. The album title seems to display a disgust for the world situation in a time when all of us whether we reside in Albania or Zimbabwe are sharing a common human experience.

G_d's Pee AT STATE'S END! is probably the closest thing to the band's critically acclaimed masterpiece "Lift Yr. Skinny First Like Antennas To Heaven!" which featured a mere four tracks and encompassed a whopping playing time of over 87 minutes however GODSPEED was wise when revisiting similar textures and soundscapes that evoke the so-called "classic" era (since the band's last two albums haven't been quite as revered). While the "Skinny Antennas" album warranted the double discker status as it provided that WOW value for most of us who have never experienced post-rock performed at such levels, the following albums had to stand in the shadow of that powerhouse production and although i found them extremely satisfying they clearly didn't achieve the state of perfection that that 2000 release had reached.

Thankfully G_d's Pee AT STATE'S END! mined those past achievements but eschewed the ridiculously long playing time as in the last 21 years our attention spans as we music lovers have eroded and as many of us have taken on the task of not only keeping up with the contemporary world of music but also have mined the past as more and more obscurities. This official 7th album of GODSPEED features four tracks but only clocks in at a rather short (for GODSPEED) playing time of 52 minutes and 38 seconds. Everything there is to love about this band is back in full vengeance. We have those beautiful mysterious soundscapes that take eerie distorted guitar sounds with creepy violins, dark atmospheres, erratic percussion, perfectly selected field recording sounds and oddball tones and timbres from glockenspiels and radio feedback.

Led by the now post-rock gods and founding members Efrim Manuel Menuck and Mauro Pezzente, GODSPEED has been quite successful at keeping its integral sound while existing as a collective with a rotating cast of members over the years. G_d's Pee features two long tracks with ridiculously long titles and both hover around the 20-minute mark and provide the connection to the band's glorious past with lengthy journeys through sound that result in the desired outcomes. The two shorter tracks hover around the 6-minute mark and rely less on the cyclical loops and develop ominous atmospheres. The album seems to balance these aspects perfectly which results in a hella satisfying post-rock experience.

Yes GODSPEED is back and just when we needed another dose of "Skinny Antennas" styled apocalyptic post-rock that shows all those whippersnappers how this music is supposed to sound (sorry if i sound like a fanboy but i am!) In my book, GODSPEED hasn't released a single bad album with even their last two releases scoring high in my world but with G_d's Pee AT STATE'S END! this band takes things back to familiar grounds that although not exactly new offers a beautiful display of ominous guitar driven post-rock in conjunct with the chamber rock sounds that brought them to the limelight. True that this album simply regurgitates that which has been expressed before but with music this dynamic, i can't help but being blown away. While clearly missing that extra oomf from the WOW factor, GODSPEED has to stand on the strength of its own unique style that doesn't ever seem to get old for my ears. Perhaps it's because the band hasn't overplayed itself with a huge canon of similar sounding albums but i think this one is going to stand the test of time even though i've only just begun to let it sink in.

4.5 but i can't seem to round it up (yet)

Report this review (#2532189)
Posted Sunday, April 4, 2021 | Review Permalink
5 stars Ouch. I got a headache trying to read that album title! The seventh Godspeed You! Black Emperor is without a doubt their best album since Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! it features some of their classic elements such as massive suites with their own multiple build-ups and lots, lots of droning. Having the strongtrack/weaktrack album format, this album manages a great balance between light chords and heavy trance-ish riffs that plague the album, all this connected by droning sections.

Is it inaccessible? Yes, their entire discography is. However I'm completely sure that if you like Post-Rock you will really enjoy this album. It's without a doubt one of their best. It might sound bold to give it five stars, but it deserves it.

Report this review (#2580758)
Posted Thursday, July 22, 2021 | Review Permalink
DamoXt7942
FORUM & SITE ADMIN GROUP
Avant/Cross/Neo/Post Teams
4 stars Offensive appearances they have expressed via this creation. "G_d's Pee At Status End!" was released as GY!BE's 7th full-length album in the spring of 2021, when people all over the world suffered from the coronavirus pandemic and lost their purpose or goal. I cannot help feeling that it appears as if they would intentionally declare an offensive attitude against such a tough situation honestly to say. This creation consists of two around-20-minute long tracks and two short ones. Both of the two long ones are formed as suites but smooth, sliding, gliding vibes and movements make us feel no lengthy impression. Downtempo, repetitive, gradually developing structures are their musical basis as well, and they do have energy to propose the 'routines' without boring nor tiring the audience. It's kind of a mystery and amazement.

The most massive, positive, offensive declaration is coming on the first track "A Military Alphabet ?" that features a delicate calm tension in the beginning, followed by such an exaggerated sound fuzz grandeur and strict rhythmic bases like a marching song (it might be natural because of the title?). The latter part involves upbeat ballooning  musical improvements and polished bluesy connections filled with crazy distorted sound manners. Such a mixture of diverse, colourful sound variations is their characteristic and simultaneously their unique charm, let me say.

"Fire At Static Valley" gives me a wonder what they mean, what they want to tell. Such a deep, heavy, depressive melodic / rhythmic discharge ? I'm afraid if they would have a concern for some massive wild forest fires around their nation Canada or US. Magnificent, tranquil, sedate, but serious, critical phrases collective remind me of various things. I consider the shortest stuff should be upon another important position in this album.

In "Government Came ?" quirky, noisy electric guitar playing flavours fascinating. Somewhat dissonant, twisted melody lines are quite fresh and impressive. Edgy, sarcastic violin touches shoot painful scratches to our heart. Dramatic development in the middle phase and sudden flexible temper interlude after loudly fuzz should be good diversion. And in the last part we can enjoy slightly uptempo (for their sound style) dreamy melodic delights. This delightful atmosphere could expect the following hopefulness, I guess.

The last "Our Side Has To Win (For D. H.)" featuring enthusiastic, gorgeous ambience with dizzy, fuzzy, postrock authentication completely thrills me. They might say we need to settle our mind, to deal with tough problems currently around us, never to give up and see the bright sunshine in the near future. Yes, every night comes to an end. A brilliant hope is matured with this song.

So, their positive intention and attitude through this production can definitely encourage us.

Report this review (#2657927)
Posted Sunday, January 2, 2022 | Review Permalink

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