Gnod/White Hills - "Gnod Drop Out with White Hills II"
(Rocket Recordings 2010, LAUNCH037, LP)
Gnod/White Hills - "Gnod Drop Out with White Hills II"
(Rocket Recordings 2010, LAUNCH037, LP)
From Aural Innovations #41 (October 2010)
Chugging along without a care in the world, throbbing with a slow tempo and Hawkwind styled sound Gnod/White Hills takes the listener on a interesting journey into a spacey world. The music is repetitive but that's how it should be. It drives and it motors, always keeping the pace set to cruise, rather than full speed. It is a mellow ambient affair throughout and at times it is film soundtrack stuff. I can hear hints of Pink Floyd and Goblin as well as the heavy Hawkwind influence, and it will be appreciated by those who like that grinding, driving, slow tempo Hawkwind pieces, as well as the Goblin/Dario Argento horror film scores. It is totally instrumental, and when it goes it builds in that good old stoner style, and when it is mellow it is very atmospheric.
The album comprises 8 tracks and lasts nearly an hour, which is ample time to allow us to sit back and watch the road go by. All the while we always find that the doobie has gone out as we have stared to space throughout the hour.
On the whole Gnod Drop Out with White Hills II is a fantastic journey into the world of the stoner/film soundtrack music. It is well put together and does the job that it intends. It keeps you interested despite the repetition. It keeps you in that headspace that warrants headphones, but it is also is justified cranked up loud through the speakers.
The album is a collaboration by two bands, Gnod from Manchester and White Hills from New York. It is excellent stuff and I enjoyed it all the way through.
For more info visit the Gnod web site at: http://www.myspace.com/gnodgnod
Visit the White Hills web site at: http://www.myspace.com/whitehills
Visit the Rocket Recordings web site at: http://www.rocketrecordings.com
Reviewed by Albert Pollard