Chroniques et points de vue:

From Amazon.co.uk:
Montreal-based anarchist collective Godspeed You Black Emperor are responsible for making some of the most awe-inspiring symphonic music of the last decade--but on their fourth record, Yanqui U.X.0, it sounds as if the wind in their sails has dropped from a gale to a breeze. By no means has their resolve faltered: Godspeed are still dedicated to autonomy from a music industry they view as corrupt--witness the sleeve of Yanqui U.X.0, which features a pen-scrawled chart that financially links major record labels to arms manufacturers and the American military itself. But the music here--recorded, for the first time, with Chicago-based producer Steve Albini--lacks the inspiring climaxes and dramatic manifestos that characterised the band's earlier works. The second movement of '09-15-00' displays a serene, windswept beauty. But all too often, individual instruments--celestial guitar roar, keening violin, martial drum signatures--aren't given enough space to breathe, gelling into one characterless drone. And with no atmospheric field recordings to section up its five plodding orchestral passages, Yanqui U.X.0 begins to feel like an awfully long 75 minutes. 0nly the closing 'Motherfucker = Redeemer' finds the band hitting their stride, but by then, you're mute with surprise that Godspeed have turned out an album that's anything other than totally excellent. --Louis Pattison

Amazon.ca:
Reprenant là où il avait laissé avec Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven, le collectif montréalais Godspeed You! Black Emperor accouche, avec Yanqui U.X.0., de trois longues pièces qui approfondissent ses incursions en territoire post-rock. Cette fois, les vagues de ses magmas sonores denses et touffus n'explosent plus en d'inévitables catharsis musicales. La troupe affiche en effet une retenue qui l'amène à privilégier les spirales sonores hypnotiques où les crescendos marquent des passages, des étapes, plutôt que l'aboutissement de ses compositions.

Derrière la console, à Chicago, Steve Albini a fait du bon travail : le mariage des cordes et des guitares saturées de distorsion est parfaitement consommé, la maîtrise des atmosphères, excellente. Le réalisateur a préféré capter l'intensité de la bande à son meilleur au prix de quelques fautes techniques : quelques fausses notes et une certaine surenchère sonore s'immiscent çà et là, mais le voyage musical est diablement enivrant. Si les fans ne seront pas dépaysés par Yanqui U.X.0., ils ne seront pas déçus non plus. L'album, qui semble clore un cycle, constitue un chapitre pertinent dans l'histoire de ce collectif politisé, qui n'a pas hésité à dénoncer, au dos de la pochette, les actifs des multinationales du disque dans des compagnies d'armement. --Nicolas Houle









Disponibilité: Usually ships in 9 to 13 days

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Produits similaires:
     la suite

Produits similaires:

• Lift Your Skinny Fists Like An
• F#A#
• Born Into Trouble As The Spark
• He Has Left Us Alone But...
• Takk...
• la suite

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Disc 1:

1. 09-15-00
2. 09-15-00
3. rockets fall on Rocket Falls
4. motherfucker=redeemer
5. motherfucker=redeemer

Note: - Ignore the nay sayers.
I can't figure out why people don't find this album as good as the Godspeed's others. In my opinion it easily stacks up to F#A#oo, which is my least favorite GYBE! release.

This seems to be the most guitar-driven album they've put out, but that's not a bad thing. The reverb and delay laden guitars as well as Efirm's tremoloed screwdriver guitar playing fit the band's compositions (they make compositions, not songs) perfectly.

Yanqui U.X.O. is a must have for any post-rock fan; don't miss out on it. 4.5 stars.

Standout tracks: Rockets Fall On Rocket Falls, Motherf***er=Redeemer (Part 2)

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Note: - Darker and bleaker, GYBE turn soundscapes on their head
With their fourth release, "Yanqui U.X.O.," Godspeed You Black Emperor takes a step away from vastly thick soundcapes, creating here a more dense, menacing sound that seems to loom ever closer to the listener rather than expanding outward. It's a different direction than their last record, and it works.

This also marks the band's most overtly political record to date. Those who have followed the group know that have strong political opinions, firmly anti-corporate and left-leaning. Here the song titles, the dire nature of the sound (especially in the context of world events), and the liner notes make it clear the band wants to speak. Yet this is instrumental music, and so, unlike when other bands decide they want to offer a message, listeners who are simply not interested will never find this increasing vocal stance intrusive. But it's there for the grabbing for those who want to know more or get involved.

Built upon layers of instrumentation by a band that is at times more than a dozen members strong, Godspeed You Black Emperor - Gybe for short - mix airy, noisy guitar with strings, sound collages, piano, chimes, and more. They take fairly simple musical themes and, using this vast array of sounds, build them up over a long period, morphing simple melodies until they metamorphosis into something wholly different. This isn't simply droning music. This is a journey.

One could liken Gybe records to soundtracks for films that have never been made. It's a description that works, because their routinely music conjures images. It's epic noise rock on a classical music scale.

But none of that does the sounds here justice. Trying to describe the music of Godspeed You Black Emperor is like trying to describe a dream. You can describe the instruments and how they go about their business, but until you hear it, you won't have a clear picture of what this band is all about.

Godspeed You Black Emperor is a superb band for those who enjoy lengthy songs, sprawling soundscapes and music you can sink into. It's a heady experience listening to this stuff. And it's worth it.

This is a darker, bleaker record than their first three releases, proving the band is not a one-trick pony.

If you're into Spiritualized, Bardo Pond, Dirty Three, Labradford, Mogwai, My Bloody Valentine, Flying Saucer Attack and others in this realm, you owe it to yourself to check this out.

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Note: - * not quite as powerful as GYBE's others ...
... while u.x.o. is still great, it just doesnt live up to f#a#, antennas, or slow riot. theirs five tracks - 70 minutes long. GYBE is mainly great for their slow moving music at the beginning then having a big "CRASH!!!" sooner or later. u.x.o. doesn't catch all the thunder. still worth the buy to add to your collection, and has a booklet of other great post-rock bands.

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Note: - Apocalypse Now
I'm baffled as to how anyone could not regard this as an advance over earlier GY!BE efforts. For one thing, they've jacked the menace element off the charts. This may be--no, undoubtedly is--the scariest record ever produced. It takes real conviction and singularity of vision to produce a record this ominous. One not even need to completely sign on to its specific apocalyptic vision (as I don't) to affirm its brilliance. But who will deny that its digital bits reek peril?

Listen.

There's a deep truth to apocalyptic. This world WILL end. By fire or ice, I don't know. But all things most certainly will be wrapped up. That GY!BE have chosen to focus on apocalyptic menace in what might be called America's Empire is understandable, though problematic, if not outright mistaken. The FACT of apocalyptic can scarcely be gainsaid. That it's (perhaps) wrongly located doesn't vitiate its reality. Yes, indicting the US is somewhat puerile and shortsighted; the larger reality, however, is the truth of the apocalyptic vision brilliantly made manifest in this entirely remarkable disc. Bottom line, specifics don't necessarily matter when thematizing the Apocalypse; the real discussion has to do with the reality vs. the nonreality of Apocalyptic.

And when it comes to the thematization of the Apocalypse, GY!BE rules. Besides, this music just unfolds in pure radiance.

Your credibility as a listener will be sadly vitiated sans familiarity with this entirely astonishing recording event. A truly significant entry into the Vahalla of recorded music.

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Note: - * Just not as strong... ...
I hate to admit it, but shouldn't these people be getting better as time passes? The first three albums, in my opinion, were great, but this one is... almost annoying. There is almost no beautiful harmonies detected in this album that blanketed Godspeed's earlier releases. If you have money to spend... Buy "Slow Riot..." "Lift Your skinny fists..." or "F#A#oo"