A bit of a slower release week certainly doesn’t lessen the killer releases out this week. A bit of a surprise with the Fool’s Gold album that features members of Foreign Born, the Fall, and We Are Scientists that is great little afro-pop album. Frank Fairfield’s debut album on Tompkins Square is also a great album. Fairfield is on tour with Fleet Foxes right now with his impressive fiddle and banjo playing. The proper release of Cymbals Eat Guitars album Why There Are Mountains is out this week as well and is a great genuine indie rock record.
Last but not least though is the Record of the Week itself, Om’s newest album God is Good. Om’s fourth album sees a bit of a departure as long time drummer and former Sleep member, Chris Haikus, left the band before the album was recorded. Stepping in to his place is the drummer of one of our favorite bands around here, Emil Amos of Grails. It seems that Emil has had a bit of influence on where Om is going as well as a lot of the Eastern sounds that have been found on the more recent Grails albums are showcased here on God is Good.
God is Good is four tracks long but these are 3 minute songs. The first track, “Thebes,” is nearly 20 minutes long and very trancing. On the second track “Mediation is the Practice of Death,” Amos shows that he is very apt at taking Haikus place behind the kit. The final two songs is a two parter and mostly instrumental.
Om also brings in a bit of new instrumentation to the mix on this record with flute being played on “Meditation…” and tamboura on several tracks as well. All of it makes for a pretty great “stoner spiritual” album. This is one of Om’s finest efforts and it makes you think, with the little amount of time Amos and Al Cisneros had together before this album came out, we’re just seeing the beginning of what is going to turn out to be a great pairing.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser."Meditation is the Practice of Death" from Om's 2009 album God is Good
Honorable mentions for September 29th Record of the Week:
- Fool’s Gold - Fool’s Gold (Iamsound)
"Surprise Hotel" from Fool's Gold's 2009 album Fool's GoldAudio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
- Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains (Sister’s Den)
"Wind Phoenix(Proper Name)" from Cymbals Eat Guitars' 2009 album Why There Are MountainsAudio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
- Frank Fairfield – Frank Fairfield (Tompkins Square)
"Nine Pound Hammer" from Frank Fairfield's 2009 album Frank FairfieldAudio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Tags: cymbals eat guitars, fool's gold, frank fairfield, om, Record of the Week
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