Emeralds
What Happened

A Norman Records recommendation (13th February 2009)

This record left our Brett feeling ecstatic.

In the past few months I've been very much enjoying the blaring analog dronage of Ohio trio Emeralds and I'm far from being the only one, the cracking Solar Bridge featured quite rightly in Wire's top 50 of 2008. They're one of those bands who release a thousand albums a year and 2009 isn't looking to be any different with loads of scheduled releases to follow What Happened, which is in our grasp now. Compared with the other stuff I've heard this album's pretty varied and accessible with guitar arpeggios scattered across the drumless, synthy terrain and extended cosmic blooping sessions that recall the sound experiments of the early electronic pioneers as well as Harmonia and the rhythmless early Cluster. The kosmische keyboard end of krautrock is obviously a huge influence and their sound is an excellent tribute, taking the classic elements but spicing things up with just enough of an update to avoid coming off like mere copyists. Noise elements do make their presence felt from time to time (occasionally I'm reminded of Fuck Buttons) but in general this is quite a sedate effort compared with the swirling disorientation of the full-on drone sets I've heard before. It's certainly pretty great in its own way and I can see it being a tidy introduction for any newcomers. We've also got the tour CD in from their dates with Pain Jerk (which didn't include a Leeds one because it was CANCELLED BY SATAN) but I haven't got a clue what that sounds like because we haven't heard it and that makes describing things difficult. CD only on No Fun!

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Sound clips for What Happened

Alive in the Sea of Information Play

Damaged Kids Play

Up in the Air Play

Living Room Play

Disappearing Ink Play

What their label says...

Emeralds is at the forefront of a new American movement that continues the experimentation in analog electronics of the 60's and 70's while ignoring the formulaic  and boring turn electronic music took in the later part of the 20th century. Add a renewed energy gained from their connections to the noise movement, and you have some of the most original and true music of the new century. 'What Happened' continues their exploration in tonal beauty of their recent work that brought to mind pioneers like Tangerine Dream and Cluster, while presenting a new approach to structure that brings to mind masters like Luc Ferrari and opens our ears to a new universe full of astonishing possibilities. This is the true new American infinite electronic music of our present. Recorded by Emeralds and mastered by James Plotkin.

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