The missing link between the one-man-band indie simplicity of
the Durutti Coloumn
's early albums and the slow-building
post-rock
grandeur of the likes of
Godspeed You Black Emperor!
,
Et Ret
's
Gasworks
is an endlessly fascinating album. Primarily a guitarist and violinist,
adds organ, hand percussion, brief wordless vocal passages, and a bit of synth to these eight lengthy, slowly unfolding pieces. Generally, the songs start simply, with one or two instruments forming a basic pattern that's elaborated upon and then slowly transformed by the additional instrumentation. Several memorable changes are worked on that basic schematic, making
a varied, subtle, and intriguing instrumental release. ~ Stewart Mason