Godspeed You Black Emperor ?– F# A# ? - 2000 Reissue (Road Sign) - NM/EX

$

25

Catalog No. cst003

Tracklist:

A
Nervous, Sad, Poor ... 20:48
B
Bleak, Uncertain, Beautiful ... 17:37
"We are trapped in the belly of this horrible machine, and the machine is bleeding to death." Few albums begin with such promise and foreboding, but this first full-length from Canadian genius collective Godspeed You! Black Emperor succeeds in the first few moments. F# A# (Infinity) contains three compositions that run the gamut from grotesque to sublime. The term "composition" seems an appropriate one to use as this band does not write songs. Each piece is at least 14 minutes in length, consisting of three to four sections. The band, a nine-member unit consisting of guitar, drums, bass, strings, keyboard, marimbas, and woodwinds, intersperses voice-over narrative with sprawling instrumental melodies. The arrangements move slowly, building from hushed silence to cathartic crescendo and back again. The narratives that accompany the music meditate on the corruption of the American government and the seeming emptiness of the postmodern era. At times, it seems that the music might offer hope, but alternatively, the haunting melodies can serve to emphasize the confusion encountered in these stories. As "Dead Flag Blues," the album's first track, unfolds, the speaker's voice is undercut by a poignant string melody and the piece builds to a beautiful peak. "Dead Flag Blues" is a four-part arrangement in an apparently symphonic pattern. A theme is stated, followed by a quiet interlude out of which the tension builds to disaster/epiphany and finally a quiet reprise of the initial melody is given. The albums second piece, "East Hastings," follows a similar pattern, producing brilliant results. "Providence" is the album's final piece, a bit longer than the others, but lacking the consistency and unity of its counterparts. The music on this album is unique and powerful. One would be hard-pressed to find any imitators of this revolutionary musical form created by GY!BE Its origins are as much avant-classical as they are rock & roll, and the band has achieved a true synthesis of the two forms, expanding them to new boundaries. This music is inherently inexplicable, and this is its beauty.


Grading Scale:

Near Mint (NM or M-): No obvious signs of wear. The cover should have no creases, folds, seam splits or other noticeable similar defects.

Excellent (EX): Very close to NM, extremely minor wear.

Very Good Plus (VG+):  Record surfaces may show some signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or very light scratches. Picture sleeves and LP inner sleeves will have some slight wear, lightly turned up corners, or a slight seam split. LP cover may have slight signs of wear also and may be marred by a cut-out hole, indentation or corner.

Very Good (VG):  Many of the defects found in a VG+ record will be more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise will be evident upon playing, groove wear will start to be noticeable, and light scratches that affect the sound. Labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached. The same will be true of picture sleeves or LP covers.

Good (G), Good Plus (G+): A record in Good or Good Plus condition can be put onto a turntable and will play through without skipping. But it will have significant surface noise and scratches and visible groove wear. A cover or sleeve will have seam splits, especially at the bottom or on the spine. Tape, writing, ring wear or other defects will start to overwhelm the object.


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