Full of Nothing

fon40 – Gnod/Bear Bones – ‘Lay Low’ split C45 $9.5
English psych-heads Gnod meet the Venezuelan stoner Bear Bones, Lay Low to produce a split tape of gorgeous neo-kraut trails and class freakdom. Gnod have been on fire lately with such vital works as the $&$ split and “Dwellings & Druss” which put them even further away from the pointless tags one might attempt to apply to their sound and vision. Guess you just gotta believe the folks when they say “psych tech” now! But just before that the devotees of the Manchester collective had been devouring heavy industrial rock riffage with choking vocals and some strange form of kraut-rock. With a constantly rotating line-up Gnod have always been a wicked live band who can shake stages all over Europe. Let’s look at what we have here: Gnod team have blessed Full of Nothing with a 21-minute instrumental slow-burner in the essential kraut fashion. Recorded & mixed at their spiritual home, Islington Mill, “The Choice of a Nubian Generation” features upbeat spiritual organs snaking in starry-eyed electronics and guitar dubs, while a motorik drum beat is pounding its way to heaven. Gnod from Gnod, light from light. Bear Bones, Lay Low is the solo guise of Ernesto González, who is no stranger to collective freakout being a key member of the seminal Sylvester Anfang II. The Venezuelan musician currently residing in Belgium knows his riffs alright but those who didn’t sleep on his supreme records on KRAAK, Sloow Tapes etc. are aware of the fact that the gentleman does his synth homework as well. While various Bear Bones, Lay Low material may sound like bold mystical sonic statements there is always a tad of goofy playfulness complimenting the vibe. Recorded onto a cassette 4-track in Venezuela and Spain the B side of this split is heavy on analog synth blobs, found sound and comes highly entertaining. But hey, throw in some jolly piano minimalism, lo-fi wash of spirited South American drones and distorted guitar workouts! While pushing himself aside from the awesome singsong witch dance moments of “El Telonero” LP, Bear Bones, Lay Low maintains his sonic persona and masterfully executes his side. Black tapes with thick ivory J-cards designed by Anya Kuts. Each is numbered and comes with a download code. Edition of 100.

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