FLY PAN AM

When you are in a band that totally disregarded the paradigm of music as we knew it and practically invented a totally new sound that inspired listeners and players alike, your future is boundless, regardless of whether this music is done under the original band's name or not. Plenty of fans have already determined that they are infallible, so they can be a little bold without losing too much of their following. Of course, the fans aren't stupid; so if the band goes too far, they'll crash and burn. Godspeed You! Black Emperor was one of those bands.

Of course, the members of Godspeed never made any seriously audacious moves since their initial audacious move of starting the band in the first place. All of their albums were significantly different without comprimising their identity. It was the band's offshoots that really pushed the limits.

A Silver Mt. Zion started off with a similar sound to Godspeed, they quickly evolved into a highly innovated group that constantly tries new things out without getting too indulgent. It seems that there was a finite supply of indulgence, and Fly Pan Am wanted all of it.

This is a bold project. It's bold because they wrote a two-note line and repeated it for 18 minutes! I'm fine with minimalism, but this is approaching the limit of minimalism. And as that limit is approached, the result is either boring or intolerable. This is both. I like the material, but it is way too repetitive, and even with some sound in the background, not enough is changing. So it starts out with enjoyment but then it hits either boredom or annoyance and then it just oscillates between the two.

The ideas are solid, but they are self-sustaining for as long as they are being used. However, you will notice an avant-garde mindset about this record, and eventually they will almost succeed in mixing avant-garde stylings with post-rock.