Gastr del Sol "Upgrade and Afterlife" CD (1997) Jim O'Rourke, David Grubbs

Description: Here we have a stunning CD from avant-rockers extraordinaire GASTR DEL SOL: Upgrade and Afterlife, released in 1996 by the Drag City label, now long unavailable. This was their masterpiece, one of the all-time milestones of experimental rock music. The much-missed Gastr del Sol (David Grubbs and Jim O'Rourke on multiple instruments and studio manipulation) was surely one of the boldest, most original musical ensembles of the last thirty years – deconstructing the avant-garde and the pop song simultaneously, then rearranging the results into something unquestionably new. As such, Gastr easily ranks with such aural mavericks as Red Krayola (who has, in recent years, featured both Grubbs and O’Rourke in its ranks), Faust (who O’Rourke would later produce) and This Heat. Upgrade and Afterlife is a staggeringly brilliant disc, packed with superlative playing, mindblowing studio manipulation and delightfully unpredictable ideas. The dynamic duo is accompanied here by such distinguished guests as Mats Gustafsson, John McEntire, Kevin Drumm, Gunter Muller, and Ralf Wehowsky. Oh, and then there's a breathtaking appearance by Tony Conrad, who adds his violin to the impossibly moving version of John Fahey's "Dry Bones in the Valley," that closes the album. Sadly, Upgrade and Afterlife has been out of print in this format for ages, with no reissue in sight. Don’t miss this chance to get your mind rearranged by Gastr del Sol's brand of twisted genius! The disc shows very slight wear, but looks great and plays flawlessly. Track list Our Exquisite Replica of "Eternity" Rebecca Sylvester The Sea Incertain Hello Spiral The Relay Crappie Tactics Dry Bones in the Valley (I Saw the Light Come Shining 'Round and 'Round) Editorial Reviews ...an exhilarating trawl through American freedom spaces....a symphony of non-head directed movement and continent-scale sound-shifts... `smart rock' isn't always a grueling proposition and doesn't always imply standing about in a field reading a book... Melody Maker I found myself left floored by both the subtlety and the range of the band's vision... These songs range from soft jazz-inflected guitar and piano sketches to collions of roaring flames... Option 5 (out of 5) - Words and bits of sound are played and collected, manipulated, spliced together and given new life.... songs emerge from within songs, improvisation and composition overlap, chaos shakes hands with control... they've cracked the surface, peeking out to find themselves alone at the top of the world. Alternative Press Gastr del Sol offers a drone heaven where orchestras tune up, pianos duet with radiator hiss, and a John Fahey acoustic arrives with violin courtesy of VU associate Tony Conrad. Spin

Price: 18 USD

Location: Brentwood, California

End Time: 2025-02-07T21:45:50.000Z

Shipping Cost: 5 USD