cst 2comp 1SB CD
Various Artists
Song Of The Silent Land
This is the first compilation from Constellation to feature unreleased and rare tracks from the label roster. Originally produced to commemorate the Spring 2004 Constellation Roadshow Tour in Europe, this CD-only release includes contributions from every band on the roster up to 2004, ranging from recent recordings and remixes to early material that pre-dates the label’s existence. It also marks a return to earlier Constellation packaging, with textured cardstock paper and metallic foil printing (in two variations). Thirteen of the 14 tracks are previously unreleased. Highlights include:
Haunting 2-track & 4-track recordings by Sofa and Exhaust, taken from self-released cassette-only editions dating back to 1996, prior to these bands’ debut records on Constellation;
Radical recon structions of material from the latest albums by Do Make Say Think and Polmo Polpo, done by the bands themselves, resulting in stunning and original new pieces that stand up entirely in their own right;
Two very different remixes of Hangedup songs, one by 1-Speed Bike, the other by Godspeed/Silver Mt. Zion guitarist Efrim; the first (and last?) fruit of Fly Pan Am’s ongoing collaboration with local electronic and concrète musicians Tim Hecker (records on Mille Plateaux, Intr_version, Force) and Christof Migone (records on Avatar, Alien8, Locust);
Great tracks from Re:, Sackville and Frankie Sparo that never made it onto official releases;
An excellent live recording of frequent concert closer ‘Outro’ by Godspeed You! Black Emperor, as performed in Nantes, France during the band’s last European tour.