F# A# ∞

Now for something completely different. This could well have been said about this record when it came out in 1997, and how many albums could you really make that statement about ? There is no singing in this dark and melancholic work. It is made up of slowly building soundscapes with the subject matter being very apocalyptic.There is a lot of repetition (like a lot of Krautrock) and sampling, and not as many uplifting, breakout moments like on "Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven" that helps make that one a masterpiece.

"The Dead Flag Blues" opens with apocalyptic words,and the scene is bleak indeed.The violins come in as it gets quite emotional. Guitars come in and slowly build. Spoken words again 6 minutes in.There is a sample of a train leaving followed by experimental, spooky noises. Some gentle guitar 11 minutes in along with drums as the melody builds to a full sound. It softens before the song ends. "East Hastings" opens with a man preaching on the street accompanied with bagpipes. It gets quiet, too quiet, and very atmospheric. After 6 minutes the sound increases slightly with a cool guitar melody 7 minutes in with drums. It stops as violin comes in.The song speeds up and the sound builds 11 minutes in, were cooking now ! It ends after a minute as samples help create a dark and atmospheric sound with weird noises.

"Providence" is the longest tune by far on the record. Opening with samples of a conversation about the end of the world and the desperate times they are in.The sound slowly pulsates as violin and eventually drums dominate 8 minutes in. Guitars come in at 9 minutes as drums continue creating a great sound ! It stops as processed vocals come in as a drum, violin and guitar melody follows and it builds. It stops as the soundscape gets very atmospheric as different sounds come in that again build. There is about 4 minutes of silence that is followed by the most aggressive passage on the record. Amazing !

In many ways Post-Rock seems to me like a modern interpretation of Krautrock. And I know there are a lot of critics of both genres, with often the same complaints as well. You know the criticism, "It's boring, repetetive and lacks focus" and on and on. Well all I know is that these genre's offer us a lot of brilliant improvisation, as well as records that are truly a listening experience.