In Remembrance: Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Misunderstood and gone forever. Godspeed You! Black Emperor won’t be forgotten.
Staying North of the border once again this week, we remember Godspeed You! Black Emperor. The Canadian, experimental, post-rock collective responsible for such albums as Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven and Yanqui U.X.O. were once of the most sophisticated bands out there. Creating symphonies rather than the typical rock album, and delving into complex symbolism and imagery, Godspeed You! Black Emperor was a mystery to the senses. Known for their lengthy tracks (most 20+ minutes) and multimedia performances, during their time GY!BE were a sight to behold.
Their sound, which can range from a post-apocalyptic symphony to shortwave radio transmissions from area 51, can’t be condensed to a single genre. Critics have cited them as anything from post-rock, progressive, punk and avant-garde to classical or ambient. Characterized by heavy, effects driven guitar, drums, bass, strings and sampled sounds, the end result is often paranormal and uninhibited.
Taking their namesake from a Japanese Biker film of the same name, Godspeed You! Black Emperor was formed in 1994 by Montreal musicians, Mike Moya, Efrim Menuck and Mauro Pezzente. While at one time including as many as 20 members, normal membership numbered around eight or nine. During live and recorded performances, musicians often changed instruments, and multi-instrumentalism was common among most members.
Members of the band have often been reluctant to grant interviews or issue press releases of any kind, only adding to the group’s mysterious persona. The band also took a fierce stance against the corporately owned music industry, with the release of their 2002 album, Yanqui U.X.O., including an extensive chart linking several major labels and manufacturers in an unflattering aura.
All Lights Fucked on the Hairy Amp Drooling, the earliest known release from the band came out in 1994. At this time the band only consisted of the three founding members. It was released on a very limited run of 33 cassette packages each with hand-made packaging. Other than a copy acquired by the band’s longtime label, Constellation Records, there are no known copies of this album in existence.
In 1997, F♯A♯∞, The second album from GY!BE was released. By this time the group had signed to Montreal based, post-rock label, Constellation Records, with whom they’d continue to work with until their eventual breakup. After its initial release, F♯A♯∞, was widely ignored by most critics and received mediocre reviews from those who did listen. In June 1998, Kranky Records did a reissue of the album; this extended version of the album went on to score high marks and was regarded the band as “highly original” and “genuinely classic” by high-ranking critics.
After months of rigorous touring following the release of F♯A♯∞, the group returned to the studio to work on their upcoming record, an EP named Slow Riot for New Zerø Kanada. Slow Riot for New Zerø Kanada would end up being GY!BE’s only official released EP, although throughout the band’s history they encouraged fans to record concerts and release live recordings. This resulted in much of GY!BE’s material being released as unofficial live records before it was ever made into an album. Always on the forefront of experimental album packaging, Slow Riot for New Zerø Kanada was packaged in a nondescript cardboard sleeve bearing no mention of the band or track names. On the front cover are a series of Hebrew markings, although it is not commonly agreed upon as to what they mean. On the inside of the packet is the Hebrew script put into greater context with the inclusion of a Hebrew hymn. The band is only mentioned by name in the included linear notes and the back of the package includes instructions in Italian on how to construct a molotov cocktail.
Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven, the third full-length album by GY!BE, was released in late 2000. As was the case with many of Godspeed’s albums, it was released as a duel cd album, the recorded material categorized by lengthy tracks and thereupon separated into individual movements. As are all of GY!BE’s other albums, there are no vocals, minus sampled voice excerpts. By this time in the band’s career there have been numerous changes, notably, co-founder Mike Moya is absent from this record. The album received high marks and was released by Constellation Records.
Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s fourth and final studio album, Yanqui U.X.O., was released by Constellation Records in late 2002. The album lacks the group’s characteristic style of naming movements inside the tracks and was released on a single cd containing five tracks. It also marked the first time the band recorded outside of their native Canada. The band was reported as not being very happy with their recording experience in the states, and subsequently returned to Canada to re-record several sequences and mix the album there. Reviews of the album were mixed, with some publications exclaiming it to be their greatest work to date, while others harshly criticized the album as a whole for its lack of imagination and innovation. This album is also noticeably more raw, undefined and angrier than their previous releases.
In mid-2003, the band announced their decision to embark on an indefinite hiatus in order for its members to pursue other musical projects. A 2008 interview with a former member of the band announced the band had officially broken up, although this was confirmed to be false, despite the fact that members have stated there are no plans in the foreseeable future to reunite.
After calling it quits, members of the band went on to pursue longtime side projects or start new bands all together. As a band with such a numerous lineup, the list of subsequent projects is also appropriately quite numerous. Notable projects include: Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band, Vic Chesnutt, Hangedup, Lesbians on Ecstasy, Simon Finn, Set Fire to Flames, Molasses, 1-Speed Bike, Exhaust, Bakunin’s Bum, The Trapt, Esmerine, Triple Burner, Black Ox Orkestar, Because of Ghosts, Fly Pan Am, Shalabi Effect, Et Sans, HRSTA, Valley of the Giants, Crowface, and Bliss.
Posted by Andrew Scott on Oct 26, 2009 @ 9:00 am
