Earth - Angels Of Darkness, Demons Of Light 1

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4...according to our Clinton on Fri 25 Feb, 2011.

Earth are one of those bands who have had a long an distinguished career without having the good fortune to regularly pass by my sumptuous ears. About a year ago I heard one song by them which earnt itself repeated plays on my battered old gramophone. This new LP is almost exactly what I would expect given that first encounter, comprising of five long lonely pieces of music where guitars twang above low end hum and drums thunder along. Each drifty instrumental piece is cinematic and desert like in atmosphere and to me most recalls gorgeous 90's soundscapers Pell Mell as played at 16 rpm. Dylan Carson certainly knows how to wrestle a variety of beautiful tones from his guitar without ever resorting to axe pyrotechnics, a low end cello wanders around providing a neat contrast. Reading the back history of this band they seem to fall into the drone, doom metal category but listening to albums like this, the likes of Dirty Three would be more accurate comparison. If you want to know how this fits into their back catalogue well you'd better ask someone else but taken on its own terms this is a beautiful, slowly unfurling, unhurried record of cinematic grace.

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Following the Extra Capsular reissues, Earth's next offering is a brand new studio album, Angels Of Darkness, Demons of Light 1, a fine testament to the fact that they have come a long way since 1989. Drawing on inspiration from both British Folk-Rock bands the Pentangle and Fairport Convention and the North African Tuareg band Tinariwen, the new material, while still heavy is much more fluid and melodically oriented, less dense and more textured and nuanced. It contains greater improvisatory interplay between the musicians.

The new album acknowledges previous recordings, sonically it cultivates the jazz infused Americana presented on The Bees Made Honey In The Lion's Skull and as a further nod to the past, Earth returned to Avast studios to work with producer Stuart Hallerman (Soundgarden, Mudhoney, Built To Spill, and Earth2!) again. There have been some significant changes which have given birth to yet another new sound, the main change being the line up and so joining Dylan and Adrienne on the album is cellist Lori Goldston (Nirvana, David Byrne, Black Cat Orchestra, Laura Veirs) and Karl Blau (K Records, Laura Veirs, Microphones) on electric bass. The touring band will feature Dylan Carlson, Adreinne Davies, Lori Goldston, and Angelina Baldoz on bass.

There are many breaths of fresh air in this new record, many hopeful tones and drones as well as more eerie ones. One thing is for sure, this incarnation of Earth excels all expectations.

A vinyl version is expected to be released later in 2011.