Product Details
He Has Left Us Alone But Shafts of Light Sometimes Grace the Corners of Our Rooms

He Has Left Us Alone But Shafts of Light Sometimes Grace the Corners of Our Rooms
Silver Mt. Zion

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Track Listing

  1. Broken Chords Can Sing A Little
  2. Sit In The Middle Of Three Galloping Dogs
  3. Stumble Then Rise On Some Awkward Morning
  4. Movie (Never Made)
  5. 13 Angels Standing Guard 'round The Side Of Your Bed
  6. Long March Rocket Or Doomed Airliner
  7. Blown Out Joy From Heaven's Mercied Hole

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #21141 in Music
  • Released on: 2000-03-27
  • Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

Not for ipods and MP3's4
The Dead Flag Blues remains the constant track against which to judge most other post rock. And where from there? is a significant question. The answer is full of blood so to speak. But ASMZ make a good splinter. Everybody seems hunched into their earphones and it's not clear to me that this is the best, or even most aware way to hear either GSY or their offspring. Yes you can pretend that your 'phones are the next best thing to a gibsonian neural shunt (Neuromancer?? Count Zero?? Idoru?? et al))but just try it with a more three dimensional listening space. Volume too, through good, dynamic speakers. Not the boring ear crush of dance/stadium rock/bling, just up volume, clear distinction sound dynamics. I am sure that this will come alive for anybody that way. But perhaps I am just wrong -who knows. Pretentious, shallow? Wellllllllllllllllll if they are then you can write off 99.99999999999% of the boring inexpressive, corporate music company image stuff that fouls the airways.

sad but soulless2
my housemate was a huge (and obessive) Constelation fan and he played this, at the time, little known LP constantly for a year. At first it intrigued me with it's melancholly and rich textures. After a while it drove me to try and remove my own kidney with a spoon. As the gentlemen did have generally excellent music taste - I've tried this album again (now that im living on my own) as I thought maybe I'd been a little unfair. All I can say, is this is intense but dire. As previous reviewers have hinted thought not stated explicitly, this is remminicent of (the wonderful) Godspeed - particular their first album, but is by no stretch of the old light black matter -as good. It doens't have a soul despite all the folorn cries and screeting guitars. Quite/loud check. Etherial sadness, check. Shit lyrics. Check. Excellent musicains without a songwriter check.

The tone of the album is what grates most for me, and I can't help but thinking FAKERS everytime I hear it! it's acadenmic music, playing at feeling. Monotonous musical motifs with ripped off Jonathan (Mercury Rev) Donahue styled vocals. I don't believe anything this band plays in my heart, clever as it can be. It reminds me of Radiohead at their "lets do another song bases on the theme of resigned lamentation" worst. Summary: Sad but souless.

Simply amazing stuff5
For anyone wondering about the content of this album, well, you gotta think that you're venturing on Constellation's territory. Of course, like a million times before, it gets compared to GYBE & I must admit it's getting a little annoying. You want some Godspeed, you buy some Godspeed. Now, if what you are looking for is music that speaks so loud & with such beauty it will make you cry, then I could never recommend any of the Silver Mt Zion enough.
Started as a side project by Efrim (piano, guitars, voice,...), Sophie (violin, voice) & Tierry (bass) from GYBE, they then expanded to a larger ensemble over the following 2 albums, which to me work as one piece (check out Constellation's website if u want to know more).
Of course, this is as remote to pop tunes as you could think. Instead, you get music that comes from pure hearts, tourmented at times, taking you along for a ride you will not forget. This is the kind of record that you'll be happy to have spent some of your life with, & probably still in 20years time. It's completely out of time, achingly beautiful, poetic & sad too. Listen to "13 angels standing gard..." & it will all make sense.
Buy all 3 albums in order & u'll will never regret it.
Simply amazing stuff...