(the explanation point thing was a joke, not funny i know)

Danbo sent me three songs off of there latest album, first time i have ever heard this band.  I have read and heard a lot of good things, so I was excited to hear it for the first time.  First few bands I thought of was Tangerine Dream, Neurosis, and Skepticism (funeral doom metal).  So nothing truly original, not that much of anything is truly original anymore. So I am enjoying it.  Although to be fair, I dont really know when Neurosis' later albums came out, maybe they were influenced by GYBE.  Same with Skepticism, but I doubt there is any relation there.

Anyway, I was sort of wondering, how did this band gain its popularity?  Most of their fans are probably not prog heads (as of right now i consider them prog).  How does the band view themselves, where do they claim their influence?

Aaron

I am persevering with "Antennas" because it is obvious that something worthwhile is going on.I'm not a massive fan of Tangerine Dream (although I do enjoy them now and then) and this GYBE album reminds me of them and Koyanaqaatsi (?) by Philip Glass.

They could be very big on this forum as the year progresses.

Aaron wrote: Danbo sent me three songs off of there latest album, first time i have ever heard this band.  I have read and heard a lot of good things, so I was excited to hear it for the first time.  First few bands I thought of was Tangerine Dream, Neurosis, and Skepticism (funeral doom metal).  So nothing truly original, not that much of anything is truly original anymore. So I am enjoying it.  Although to be fair, I dont really know when Neurosis' later albums came out, maybe they were influenced by GYBE.  Same with Skepticism, but I doubt there is any relation there. Anyway, I was sort of wondering, how did this band gain its popularity?  Most of their fans are probably not prog heads (as of right now i consider them prog).  How does the band view themselves, where do they claim their influence? Aaron

If you listen to King Crimson, you will notice how GYBE uses some very Frippian compositional styles; the slowly building, the gradual addition of sounds, textures and tension that sonically climax and ebb away.

I don't know much about the band itself, next to nothing really, but with the attention given by forum members made me curious and I bought Skinny Fists and Yanqui UXO. I've only listened to Yanqui twice completely and maybe half of Skinny Fists. I like what I hear, but for me, I have to be in the right frame of mind to give it proper attention, the main reason I haven't written any reviews of their music.  

danbo wrote: Aaron wrote: Danbo sent me three songs off of there latest album, first time i have ever heard this band.  I have read and heard a lot of good things, so I was excited to hear it for the first time.  First few bands I thought of was Tangerine Dream, Neurosis, and Skepticism (funeral doom metal).  So nothing truly original, not that much of anything is truly original anymore. So I am enjoying it.  Although to be fair, I dont really know when Neurosis' later albums came out, maybe they were influenced by GYBE.  Same with Skepticism, but I doubt there is any relation there. Anyway, I was sort of wondering, how did this band gain its popularity?  Most of their fans are probably not prog heads (as of right now i consider them prog).  How does the band view themselves, where do they claim their influence? Aaron If you listen to King Crimson, you will notice how GYBE uses some very Frippian compositional styles; the slowly building, the gradual addition of sounds, textures and tension that sonically climax and ebb away. I don't know much about the band itself, next to nothing really, but with the attention given by forum members made me curious and I bought Skinny Fists and Yanqui UXO. I've only listened to Yanqui twice completely and maybe half of Skinny Fists. I like what I hear, but for me, I have to be in the right frame of mind to give it proper attention, the main reason I haven't written any reviews of their music.

Agreed. It is very attention demanding music. I really enjoy it, but its not something that i can listen to very often; i find it very emotionally draining.

Useful_Idiot wrote: GYBE's fanbase is primarily in indie circles, which I find is also the case with some of the other better known modern prog bands like Radiohead and The Mars Volta.  And yeah, their views are very left wing.  They actually discourage people buying their CDs from major chain stores.

or at all?

I bought Yanqui thingy on its release having read drooling reviews of 'the canadian 9-piece collective' as they seem to be called in almost every piece I've ever read.

I was expecting something Sigur Ros-ish, with hints of Radiohead etc, maybe bits of Berlin period Bowie.

And I have to say I'm a little disappointed. I find it really hard to listen to. There just doesn't seem very much going on for me.

Now while I like minimalism as much as the next man (if the next man happens to be Arvo Part or Brian Eno) but I find the GYBE stuff to be too linear, especially when the songs clock in at 17 minutes or more.

I appreciate the quiet/loud thing but when it's repeated ad nauseum it just leaves me a little cold.

Maybe I'm just overly obsessed with melody, but I kinda get bored with GYBE after about 10 minutes. The music doesn't seem to go anywhere. While piling on instruments in stages works for Philip Glass (I can see where Reed is coming from here) it doesn't seem so for GYBE. Is it because their tunes are just not that good?

Weird but I can listen to Music for Airports but not to this and the principle is the same is it not?

I think Sigur Ros (who are of the same ilk I guess) have much better songs and that's the reason why I listened to Agaetis Byrjun non-stop when I bought it and consigned GYBE to the cd rack.

I tried hard but I don't get it.....

Whether they've been directly influenced or not, GYBE also have elements of Univers Zero in their sound - all those doomy soundscapes filled with orchestral instruments. They're not as rhythmically complex as UZ, but then who is?

I believe that bands like GYBE and Sigur Ros play the true progressive rock of today.

GYBE, Mogwai, Sigur Ros, Explosions in the Sky, Do Make Say Think I like that tuff to an extent but I don't really consider it prog at all.

In fact, I'd be willing to bet all those bands would roll their eyes at you if you so much as referred to them as "rock music".

http://s9.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1JWQWOUKLJC420Z0H8YZ2FMUDC - http://s9.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1JWQWOUKLJC420Z0H8YZ2FMUDC

Sssh, GYBE "antennas"

IMO i do not think it is prog: it is too minimalist to be called prog. this music has no threshold times...acer, you post tells all