Inspiring & beautiful
On new album, co-founder of Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Thee Silver Mt. Zion member (amongst other things) Efrim Manuel Menuck uses his years of experience and knowledge to create an emotive and very personal affair; distorted guitar, echoes, ambient noises and some very lovely melodies create a wash of soundscapes with a dreamy quality to compliment some very personal lyrics; death and birth among them.
Album opener, the quirkily titled 'Our Lady Of Parc Extension And Her Munificent Sorrows' has a psychedelic feel with wavering distortion on the layered vocals and guitar and squidgy little noises in the background; it meanders expansively, beautifully. ' A 12 Pt. Program For Keep On Keeping On' begins with what sounds like cricket noises, a gentle ambient outdoor sound , this track however, despite it's unassuming start, quickly develops into a mesh of intense beats and slightly unnerving electro noises and vocal samples.
Much of the rest of the album is more gentle and dreamy than this manic outpouring, tracks like 'August Four, Year-Of Our-Lord Blues' has a sweet melody played by heart-rendingly beautiful echoed electric guitar (somewhat reminiscent of Neil Young's soundtrack to "Dead Man") and the incredibly emotive vocals for 'Heavy Calls & Hospital Blues' stay with you long afterwards. "Plays High Gospel" is an inspiring record, at times almost painfully beautiful and packed with raw emotion, it soars and meanders but also has plenty of melodic moments to reign you back in.