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The 10 Step Guide to Interesting Guitar Based Music (for Those Who Only Listen to What They Hear on the Radio)
PART 5 - EXPERIMENTAL ROCK: SPACE ROCK

[NOTE: Another disclaimer. These next four sections are about some sub-genres of experimental rock that I think are interesting. There are sub-genres that won't be mentioned - some due to me not knowing enough about them to write with any level of authority, some just to save space. The other thing worth noting is that a lot of experimental groups will inhabit several of these sub-genres, so I'll only mention them in the one that I think applies to them the most.]

The term "space rock" was initially used to describe the sound of Pink Floyd's drifting, cosmic albums of the seventies, but has resurfaced in the last decade to describe a new wave of indie groups, who also derive their sound from ambient music, Krautrock, psychedelia, progressive rock and (primarily) avant-garde forms such as post-rock (which will be discussed later).

During the late eighties and early nineties there were several critically acclaimed space rock groups, including (the appropriately-named) Spacemen 3, My Bloody Valentine and Spiritualised (who were formed from members of the eventually-disbanded Spacemen 3). The style did recieve some public interest, but it was nothing compared to the massive lift it would experience starting in the mid-nineties.

Through groups like Sigur Ros, Godspeed You Black Emperor! and Mogwai, space rock has now become the most popular form of modern experimental rock. With the large number of space rock bands emerging, enough similarities have surfaced to form a fair idea of the modern space rock group prototype. The groups generally (but not exclusively) favour lengthy compositions, often lasting well over 10 minutes. There is also a tendency to forego vocalists in favour of instrumental soundscapes, which are often multi-instrumental to the point of sounding semi-orchestral. The songs are usually slow and based around repeating melodies, making the music particularly hypnotic. Many groups favour the technique of allowing these looped melodies to build in volume and intensity before giving way to huge crescendos. While the soft-loud motif originated with Slint's Spiderland, and is used quite commonly by many space rock groups, it was made especially popular by Godspeed, who have trademarked it to the point that it now sounds imitative when coming from other groups.

All these factors combine for some pretty overblown theatrics. It's easy to write space rock groups off as posers, determined to maintain a carefully crafted image of angst and introspection. While this is probably justified in a lot of cases, you shouldn't let it deter you, as the music itself can be incredibly rewarding. The drawn out tracks generally repeat in the short term, while subtly evolving in the long term. When compared to the verse-chorus-verse-chorus structure of most other music, this brings to light one of space rock's major strengths - the payoff. Too much music sounds exactly the same at the end of a song as it did at the beginning, but with space rock's progressive song structure, the listener is constantly rewarded with something new.

Godspeed You Black Emperor! remain the kings of the genre, with their massive lineup (the band is a nontet of varied instrumentalists, who often feature extra musicians on their albums) allowing for an incredible depth of sound. I encourage everyone with an interest in space rock to pick up all of their releases. Their first album, F#A# Infinity, is much more subdued, with those trademark crescendos appearing in every album thereafter. For anyone who likes those albums enough, it would also be worth considering the numerous Godspeed side projects (including A Silver Mt Zion and Set Fire to Flames), as well as checking out the catalogue of the record label Constellation (home of Godspeed as well as a number of other space rock groups - something of a specialty label). The only other space rock I personally consider to be particularly essential is Explosions in the Sky's cumbersomely titled Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever. Their hybrid of space rock mixed with metal is the most interesting development the genre has seen in the past few years.

END OF PART 5.

 Album Recommendations.
Spacemen 3 - Taking Drugs to Make Music to Take Drugs to (1990)
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless (1991)
Experimental Audio Research - Mesmerised (1994)
Flying Saucer Attack - Further (1995)
Godspeed You Black Emperor! - F#A# Infinity (1996)
Mogwai - Young Team (1997)
Godspeed You Black Emperor! - Slow Riot For New Zero Kanada EP (1999)
Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun (1999)
Godspeed You Black Emperor! - Lift Yr Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven! (2000)
A Silver Mt Zion - He Has Left Us Alone but Shafts of Light Sometimes Grace the Corners of Our Rooms (2000)
Do Make Say Think - Goodbye Enemy Airship the Landlord is Dead (2000)
Set Fire to Flames - Signs Reign Rebuilder (2001)
Explosions in the Sky - Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever (2001)
Godspeed You Black Emperor! - Yanqui U.X.O. (2002)


NEXT: PART 6 - EXPERIMENTAL ROCK: LO-FI