Do Make Say Think — You, You're A History In Rust
For this record the band have added some new instruments to their ensemble, and one of these in the shape of Liyat Benchetrits piano can be heard on the first track Bound to be that way. The tracks builds upon a simple drum rhythm and piano chords before light horn and electric guitar are added. After a couple of minutes the tracks bursts into life with heavier guitar and drum playing. The melodies are almost folkish and there is less of the studio post-production evident on previous albums.
A With Living contains the major surprise of the record with vocals and almost conventional song structure. The lyrics and mixing makes the voice sound understated and it matches the melancholic atmosphere of the music very well. With the addition of human voice the music really does begin to sound more like electric folk than anything related to post-rock. The Universe is the full on rock out track of the album. Stop-start riffs and light melodic strumming are coupled with the bands signature rolling and jazz influenced drums and wailing horns. I guess you could describe it as anthemic.
A tender history in rust is a very moody mix of alt-country guitar picking and audio manipulations, creating a droning flowing piece that will excite fans of their And yet, and yet album.
Her story of glory is another more complex and melancholic piece that features child’s voices and marimba. When the band get going into one of these atmospheric grooves you can see why they are often heralded as Godspeed you black emperors more mature brother.
Executioner blues recalls Goodbye enemy airships wavering beauty and power. Layered guitar feedback and strumming with almost martial style drumming. Yet they still manage to retain that folkish and country music feel. The tracks ends with a huge guitar crescendo before fading out to the sounds of cicadas and distant movement. The final track In Mind is an almost pop like guitar track with overdriven electric guitar and distorted vocals. Its short but sweet.
You you’re a history in rust is an album that seems to fall between two stools. Half the time it seems to be pulling away into territory occupied by groups like Silver Mt Zion with a more live feel and folk, group singing influences and at other times it’s looking backwards towards their space rock past. It’s an album with many moments to admire but compared to their perfectly orchestrated past they had a lot to live up to.