A Silver Mt. Zion
has created a quiet album of beautiful and hypnotic melancholy, giving it the lengthy name
He Has Left Us Alone, but Shafts of Light Sometimes Grace the Corner of Our Rooms
. With this early 2000 release on Montreal's
Constellation
label,
Efrim
,
Thierry
, and
Sophie
of
Godspeed You Black Emperor!
(also on
) create a sound similar to that of
GYBE!
, but less mournful and more gentle. Layers of string sections surround inner rings of light echoes, surrounding a core of sparsely played, reverberating guitar. This mostly instrumental album occasionally calls to mind the simple, quiet, and space-filled works of modern composer
Peter Garland
, as well as the solo albums of
Dirty Three
guitarist,
Mick Turner
.
(piano),
(contrebass), and
(violin) are joined by other members of the Montreal bands
Godspeed
Exhaust
, and more, resulting in an often lush and raw sound that can include drums, clarinet, guitar, and tape loops. Dedicated to
's late dog, Wanda, this release is in keeping with the other serious and vulnerable music found in the
catalogue. ~ Joslyn Layne