F# A# ∞

I have always thought that great music captures the listener, surrounds them and takes control of them emotionally or intellectually or both. It is this combination which for me at least epitomizes the best in progressive music.

The vision here is bleak, post apocalyptic and yet from the outset there is beauty. There is an understated and relaxed approach which reminded me of the sorrowful style of the Cowboy Junkies. However, GYBE do not conform to strict musical formula. By no means, samples, barren soundscapes, abound. There is narration and conversation.

For me, Providence stands out as the best example of all the facets of the album. The doleful strings are memorable (it's not the rumbling basses of Gorecki's 3rd) but the vision is similar. The piece moves from throttled tapped chords and harmonics to milataristic snares with an almost mandolin like folk style which end in almost total deconstruction: a barren and alien soundscape terrifyingly beautiful. Then silence before haunting echoed keyboards and guitar restore a more positive sensibility.