A splinter group of popular post-rock ensemble Godspeed You Black Emperor, A Silver Mt. Zion (or, as they are referred to here, Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band) is comprised of GYBE guitarist/pianist/singer Efrim, bassist Thierry, violinist Sophie, and other guests. But whereas the band's previous albums sometimes sounded like replications of GYBE's layered, largely instrumental formula, HORSES IN THE SKY is a different kettle of fish altogether. Raw, stripped-down, and vocal-centered, Silver Mt. Zion's fourth album is hushed, mesmerizing, and deeply affecting.
The opening track, "God Bless Our Dead Marines," begins with Efrim's tortured, yelped vocals over pizzicato strings, before dropping into a shifting Balkan dance melody and a chain of surreal lyrics about politics, Nina Simone, and drug abuse. On "Mountains Made of Steam," a mournful vocal tag, that sounds like it might have come from some nightmarish version of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF gives way to a surging orchestral passage and a piercing rain of electric guitar notes, while the title track is all hushed acoustics. The combination of unique instrumentation, angular arrangements, and Efrim's elliptical lyrics and chilling singing makes HORSES IN THE SKY a distinctive and recommended listen.
Uncut (p.110) - 3 stars out of 5 - "Their latest collection of protest songs deals with themes such as war and drug addiction and their feelings for their homeland, delivered as haunting lamentations that owe as much to the Jewish Klezmer and US folk traditions as to Slint." Mojo (Publisher) (p.108) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[T]heir most primitive, intimate and vocally oriented yet."
just keeps getting better! Excellent album. Silver Mt. Zion is just getting better... even more than GYBE!. Give it a try! Submitted by salmacis78 (Quebec, Qc, Canada) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Awesome, it is good to hear Efrim's voice I would've given it 5 stars if Efrim had more versatility in his voice. His voice is so distinctive that it can get old if he uses the same formula for every song. But, upon first listen, very good progressive stuff. These guys are quite original and creative and worth buying. Submitted by Lola Upchertch (Hell, KY) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Like a black Monolith in a desert This album increases his power every time you listen to it. The first time sound strange to hear all that voices, the second time you get intrigued, the third time you can't wait to listen the fourth. delicate string pizzicatos, sudden crescendos and.. that voices. It's the same feeling you get watching the first part of 2001 A Space Odissey for the first time. Submitted by Onga (Treviso, Italy) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
just keeps getting better!
Awesome, it is good to hear Efrim's voice
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