The Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-la-la Band - Born Into Trouble as the Sparks Fly Upward
(Constellation)
This latest release from the extended Godspeed collective shows "the
group" demonstrating a new emotional complexity beginning with, and
perhaps most welcomed, a sense of humor (check out that new name!). The
result has yielded what may be the finest record yet of any of the
Godspeed or offshoot records. (Well, maybe not quite as good as Slow
Riot for New Zero Kanada.) Born Into Trouble... bridges the
gap between the raging power of Godspeed You Black Emperor! and the more
personal and intimate approach of the previous A Silver Mt. Zion album,
while simultaneously appearing to re-evaluate the function and success of
the Godspeed collective's work.
This "tiniest worried symphony" comes accompanied by a wonderful and
rambling, bordering on nonsensical, epitaph/manifesto that laments the
failure of "the group's" efforts, yet seems to evidence a retrenching
through cutting their loses. This dual notion of mourning shot through
with reinvigoration characterizes the musical arc of the album (which,
like other Godspeed and A Silver Mt. Zion records are single pieces divided into relative subparts).
The opening tracks are slow and somber, minor key strings moan, and
guitars cry and wail in the background. Mourning of the failure, however,
is dissipated by the third track in which a voice speaking to "brothers and
sisters," "enemies and friends" exhorts us to have "a little more hope... a little more joy... a little more light," reminding us that "we
were an army if we believe we were an army." The voice rises in
intensity, instructing us to speak powerful words, to employ those words
in plans for our armies that will bring about the hope, joy, and light. As
the voice fades into the strings and guitars, we notice that the tone has
subtly shifted. Though still slow and heavy in heart, the melody is now
rising.
It continues to rise until it bursts open in a passage as powerful and
furious as the Godspeed collective has ever issued forth, aided by some
frantic vocals, dangerous, teetering strings, and the growling, rumbling
guitar that threatens to explode and burn us all up. It is apparent that
whatever failure may have occurred is being buried, and that whatever
weakness in purpose or solidarity that may have been perceived is being
cauterized by the newly enflamed passion.
The success of this album is due to the renewal that the members seem to
have undergone during its creation. In shifting the focus from
channeling a world of loneliness, pain, and injustice to our place in and
responsibility to this world, The Silver Mt. Zion Orchestra has created
music that is more vital and more urgent than what they have done
previously. The catharsis that is so essential, especially to Godspeed You Black Emperor!, has
taken a much more personal tone and is thus more poignant and effective
for the audience.
This music is heavy upon one's heart, and we can only imagine the pain
that must have been suffered by the musicians in giving it birth. For
this reason, the members of the Memorial Orchestra deserve our respect and
gratitude for taking upon themselves this burden. These facts make their
plea of "please believe" all the more necessary for the audience to heed.
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