Sonic Youth With Mats Gustafsson and Merzbow
Andre Sider af Sonic Youth (SYR8)

This record left our Brett feeling unmoved.

I love Sonic Youth's SYR series because, with a couple of exceptions, they've all been self-indulgent toss. They get it all out of their systems then come along with a 'proper' new LP that walks up to every other band while they're busy doing bench presses, holds them down and pumps in their face. It's utilitarian noodling and I, for one, am very grateful for it. SYR8 features a recording of a set from Roskilde in 2005 while Jim O'Rourke was still kicking around with them, with Merzbow also dropping in for tea. Basically there's a lot of jazzing about, the occasional bit of shouting, maybe a few buckets being hit with sticks or something. I mean I'm all for avant-garde stuff and I probably have a higher tolerance for it than most but as Phil quite rightly says, there's really nothing much here to latch on to and it's very hard to imagine anyone genuinely loving the thing. I'm sure it'd be far more interesting if you were seeing them do it live and watching them play off each other in a more physical way, but none of that comes through on the recording alone. Still, at least there next studio LP's bound to be a beauty.

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What their label says...

This installment of Sonic Youth’s series of experimental and mostly instrumental releases is available in a CD-only edition on the band’s own SYR label. Andre Sider af Sonic Youth presents the complete “Other Sidesof Sonic Youth” improvised live performance from the 2005 Roskilde Festival in Denmark, featuring Sonic Youth (with Jim O’Rourke) and guests Swedish saxophonist Mats Gustafsson and Japanese sound artist Masami Akita (a.k.a. Merzbow). The single piece performed was a structured improvisation which for 60 minutes added and subtracted musicians one by one until only Akita was left onstage. Black Sabbath followed. Tracks : 1. Andre Sider af Sonic Youth.

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