GCS’s debut album, released on robotic empire in October 2007:
9.06 ice creaks
5.41 hushing weight
8.55 suchness
5.44 subtle disaster
the first track, ice creaks, plays like a lullaby, with such a slow start that it’s a minute in before you realize what’s going on. but it builds, and at 7.15, there is an instrumental break where you are forced to realize the fever and pitch it’s climbed to. the interval from 7.29 through 8.24 alone makes the album worthwhile—you can really hear kayo dot in there.
from then on, it’s mostly pretty sounds broken apart at sleepy intervals. although suchness showcases a simply entry that is pitch perfect, and sustained for almost a full minute without losing interest. it’s unfortunate that the rest of the 9 minutes can’t say the same, but that’s a lot to ask, in the end.
this is the kind of album that people will love to call “haunting” but that’s a meaningless descriptor slapped on to anything with a hint of non-melody. it’s a good cd to fall asleep to, though, sort of white noise with less ordered regularity. slightly assonant turns of sound, like raindrops on a skin drum; hollow and thinly percussive. sigur rós with slightly more bite. it’s the darker elements what define it—rich bass drums and echo chambers. the word “oceanic” is used a lot too, but that applies, because it does sound like an ocean of noise. each of the four members of gcs sing and play several instruments throughout the tracks, and it is this non-focus on any one element for very long that allows the thoughts to stream on for so long.
so, I guess what I'm saying is, it's good. but no need to buy it. ask me and I'll burn you a copy. or, maybe, buy it, because they are a local band and need you to buy things from them. but really, don't buy it and they will be forced to produce better music which you should really be spending your money on.
