The Fashionably Late Top 60 of 2013: #19 - Gnod

When it comes to year-end lists, y'all know I don't mess around. I don't post my picks from the previous year for weeks after the next year has started. In 2013 there was a bounty of music that entered the world that made me deliriously happy to be blessed with the sense of sound. So I have pondered, marinated, and contemplated for weeks. Music from 2013 has been digested for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (and yes, even dessert). And now, friends, it's time. Time to share with you what I consider the cream of one heck of a crop indeed. You might see things omitted here that you think should be on a Best Of list. This list isn't what I think you want to read. This list is what I feel about last year. These are records and songs that really mattered to me for one reason of another. If it's not here, I either didn't spend enough time with it or just didn't love it quite enough. A big, big thank you to all of the artists who created the music on this list, the music that I fell in love with last year.

WHO: Gnod

WHAT: Chaudelande

WHEN: February 2013

WHERE: Rocket Recordings

WHY: If ever a record was made to be played at excessive loudness, it is the weird and wonderful Chaudelande, as recorded by the weird and wonderful, Krautrocking Gnod. Complicated, crushing noise brutally churns along from song to song, creating gloriously-layered soundscapes that are as pleasing to the ear as they are perilous. All is spectacular, shambolic sonic chaos, droning buzzsaws and riotous repetition. They even throw in a little spacey, get-down groove to take the edge off (a smidge) here and there. Psych rock with quite a bite, Gnod is not for the faint of heart.

MY JAMS: The entire record

mp3: Visions of Load


[posted 3.18.14]