Canadian viola/drum duo Hanged Up is probably in some way affiliated with Godspeed you Black Emperor! so there's certainly to be a lot more hubbub about them than any other such unit; like most of the GYBE side projects there are some interesting ideas here, but nothing tremendously substantial. The percussion is strong and steady, and the viola moves slowly around it like soup. The Constellation promo droolings mention a "middle European" sensibility, but of course don't all violas or violins give things a vaguely Hungarian feel (the Raincoats excepted of course and probably more things that I don't have the energy to think about). Anyway, there are some really nice bits on here like the all-too brief "Propane Tank" that resembles some of the Joggers and Smoggers era Ex; and the strangest cover/reworking of New Order's "Blue Monday" that I've ever heard. This interest in the dancier side of things is also found in "Czech Disco Pt. 2" which bounces around rather pleasantly. "Tapping" is heavy, sparse repetition that totally has the feel of an industrial art opening band. "Bring yr Scuba Gear" is quite exuberant--probably the high point of the album--which has a great use of the band's unique rock instrumentation. Still, everything feels underdeveloped, and with the exception of "Wilt" and the above-mentioned "Propane Tank," most songs are only unique in their instrumentation, otherwise following pretty basic rock forms.
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