F♯ A♯ ∞ [F-Sharp, A-Sharp, Infinity] (LP Version) (studio album) by Godspeed You! Black Emperor

From VictorVale 02/26/2023 13:35

Denso!

While it may not reach the incredible heights of the acclaimed Lift Yr Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven, that doesn’t take away from the pure mastery at work in this debut album. The starter track, The Dead Flag Blues is all that you want in a GY!BE album. The static, radio frequency like noises, the sounds of everyday events like car doors opening that make it sound like you are eavesdropping in a vacant and post apocalyptic world and, best of all, you have the perfected timing of an instrumental build up to some other worldly crescendos of chaotic music. Following this up, you have the extremely sinister East Hastings. A single, eerie guitar line sets up a very dark, frantic and explosive rabbit hole of music for GY!BE to explore. The result is simply fantastic. It is hard to explain, but GY!BE have the ability to make instruments more emotionally charged. For example, the violins at the start of Providence are some of the most haunting, yet sad and isolated violins you will hear in music. As well as this, the simple guitar strings being plucked on the highlight East Hasting sound so sinister and so purposeful. It is truly a unique art that few have mastered, and what an incredible art to have at your disposal. This is a must listen for all music fans.

A fantastic album that you really grow to love with the more listens you have. The dark and foreboding atmosphere that really captivates and sucks you in the longer you listen to the album. This is created by each of the songs being allowed to be slowly built up and create tension from the delicate instrumentation. The music itself is also of an extremely high quality and each instrument is allowed is own moment to shine. This is an album that you really have to take your time with and have some patience as it took me a few listens to truly see the genius behind the record and once I did I just sat there and was lost in the music. Overall, this is well worth a listen and while it may be their second best record it is still a masterpiece.

I honestly prefer this to LYSFLATH. Don't get me wrong, LYSFLATH is amazing, but something about this record just speaks to me.

From teague 10/29/2021 16:59

Just as good if not better than LYSFLAtH.

From pjohnsongolf 03/30/2021 20:25

Who needs meditation when you have this

From StefanR10 12/25/2020 17:27

I love it the mood of the ending of something big and the dark melodies and the words inspire me.

From Brad1770 08/13/2020 10:04

2 songs (or 3 depending on your edition) but 5 STARS

Soundtrack to the end of days leaving me drained and scared after every listen

Simply brilliant

One of the best post-rock albums I've heard, better then LYSFLATH and on par with Soundtracks For The Blind.

Not as great or impressive as Lift Your Skinny Fists, but just as emotional and artistic...