Chroniques et points de vue:

Un incontournable québécois:
C'est loin des projecteurs que Godspeed You Black Emperor ! a concocté Lift Your Skinny Fists…, un impressionnant enregistrement post-rock qui a voyagé discrètement mais sûrement autour du globe. 0n y trouve un travail des atmosphères qui séduit autant qu'il commotionne.

From :
Canada's Godspeed You Black Emperor raise the ante on their already ambitious orchestral rock by releasing a double CD of material as their second full-length album. The group combines the drums and guitar of typical rock-band instrumentation with horns and strings to create a music built around drones and slowly evolving melodic figures. lt rises and falls from delicate introductory passages to unabashed grand climaxes. Their juxtaposition of drums with violins and lush romantic tonality brings to mind Rachel's, but their compositional scale and the pounding repetitive intensity of their dynamic peaks evoke Glenn Branca's The Ascension. Although the two discs are indexed at only two 21-minute tracks each, the package includes a handy road map to the movements into which each is subdivided. The opening piece starts with five minutes of a 15-beat circular melodic pattern that is gradually embellished as the volume swells to an ecstatic roar. The release drops down to a pastoral drone that rebuilds to support an acid-etched guitar solo, which in turn yields to a unified 4/4 kraut rock pound that eventually explodes, leaving behind field recordings of public announcements mingled with wandering late-night Swell Maps piano. The other pieces use a similar set of sonic building blocks to take the listener on comparable journeys. Fans of Godspeed's previous work will be very happy, and the curious might want to hop on board as well. --Bob Bannister

Amazon.ca:
Godspeed You Black Emperor! récidive avec son rock instrumental somptueux et ses paysages musicaux enveloppants dans sa troisième production, Levez vos skinny fists comme antennas to heaven!. Le collectif montréalais – deux batteries, deux basses, trois guitares, un violon et un violoncelle – livre ici un disque double où l'expérimentation sonore, parfois proche du bruitage, se fait plus présente, l'orchestration encore plus riche, la charge émotive toujours puissante.

Les quatre morceaux, d'une vingtaine de minutes chacun, sont divisés en sections qui s'enchaînent à la manière des mouvements d'une symphonie. À partir d'un motif répété en sourdine, Godspeed échafaude de lancinants crescendos, qui aspirent inéluctablement l'auditeur dans des tourbillons de guitares bourdonnantes et de percussions appuyées. La tempête finit par s'apaiser, mais la quiétude cède bientôt le pas à l'intervention lyrique des cordes, à l'irruption solennelle des cuivres, à l'orage affolant des guitares.

Les compositions quasi filmiques du groupe incorporent des voix, captées hors du studio, qui donnent à l'ensemble un incroyable pouvoir d'évocation. lci, un vieil homme se remémore le paradis de sa jeunesse, Coney lsland ; là, un duo de glockenspiel débouche sur des comptines d'enfants, comme autant d'hommages à l'innocence dans un monde en décrépitude. Une sorte d'espérance obstinée, de foi enragée, affleure, malgré les ambiances angoissantes qui baignent l'album. Levez vos skinny fists comme antennas to heaven! est une bouleversante invitation au rêve et au cauchemar de la part d'un groupe qui échappe aux comparaisons. --Noémi Mercier









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Note: - praise or hate it, no way in between
on their 2 LP, godspeed you black emperor! molds elements of rock and classical to create an very emotional album. but beware, this album may be hard to swallow for some. if you are already experienced with this 'post-rock' genre, you will enjoy this album. but, if you have typically listened to more "mainstream" genres of rock music, this may not be for you. i have heard from many that this album is boring and repetitious. this may be true. on lift your skinny fists... 4 tracks are spread out on 2 discs, filled with waves of swaying string movements and marvelous climaxes of distorted guitars and heavy drums. this album, even though long, has its moments. if you are a patient type and are willing to listen 19 minutes until it picks up. you will enjoy this gorgeous musical experience.

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Note: - A Triupmh
At long last an album that successfully combines Rock instrumentals with an Ambient textural soundscape. This is a must own for Ambient and even New Age music lovers, yet it has a distinctive Rock sound. This could very well be the first 21st century Rock album.

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Note: - * Wondering whether you would like this CD? ...
How you found out about Godspeed is unimportant. Buying this CD is. Let me assure you that you will glad that you've discovered this band. Buy this cd, listen to it, and then spread the word. This is simply beautiful music.

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Note: - Not what I expected
This album/band is so overrated I can't believe it. After some glowing press and reviews read here, I was suckered into this one. My own fault I guess. If you are a fan of rock music do not buy this. This 2-album set is like driving through Nebraska...boring. It lacks flow, melody, rhythm, coolness, spine and/or soul. Nothing new and definitely nothing exciting. Remember Yes' Tales from Topographic Ocean? However, if you like mood music, Yes or other pretentious classical art "rockers" give it a spin.

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Note: - * love it or leave it... ...
I've scanned the (...)reviews that are posted on this album. An interesting pattern appears to be there, in which people are very split on its merits -- the majority are crazy about it (and really feel they have heard something very new and special), while the vocal minority feel almost scammed by it (emperor's new clothes and all that). I am in the former category, as I find the music new, exciting, moving, frightening, beautiful, sad, and exhilirating, all at once. But I can see why it's not for everyone. It loosely falls into some sort of category of "symphonic rock" -- kind of like an updated Pink Floyd sound (Atom Heart/Ummagumma vintage). Once you get past the scale of the music (if you do get past it), you can get caught up in it. It's definitely not something where you can listen to it for 3-5 minutes (your average song length), and then decide whether you like it or not -- you have to take it in as a whole. If people want to take this one step further, I suggest some of Glenn Branca's rock symphonies.

One small point: I didn't see much mention of the artwork/packaging, which is great.