Review of Grayceon/Giant Squid - Split 7"

So here is a limited edition (500 copies) 7″ vinyl spilt with new songs from Grayceon (“The West”) and Giant Squid (“Sutter’s Fort”). Both bands are arguably two of the better avant-garde, post-rock bands around, with both acts featuring the vocals of Jackie Perez Gratz (Amber Asylum) and her cello amid the dramatic, fluid, evocative hues of Grayceon or the more chaotic and caustic spurts of Giant Squid. Both tracks continue the sound created by both band’s last releases (Grayceon’s amazing self-titled 2007 effort and Giant Squid’s Metridium Fields in 2006).

“The West” is a mesmerizing, organic number that features colliding cellos, crumbling riffs, and truly stunning cello (the Neurosis meets Apocalyptica sound is still viable) acoustic ambiance. It’s all backed by Gratz and Max Doyle’s contemplative voices. If the forthcoming new album has material at least this good, then pencil me in for a top 5 contender, as Grayceon’s sound is so creative, artisticm and beautifully subtle it’s almost unfair.

Giants Squid’s track, while solid and less introspective than Grayceon, is a heavier, more sprawling, unpredictable number. “Sutter’s Fort” cements why Giants Squid is a perfect fit on The End Records, with their collage of driving post-rock, Serj Tankian-styled vocals, female vocals and other-wordly, trippy programming and acoustics. Of course, due to only being one track, there’s more focus than the album, but Giant Squid still strike me as less cohesive and immediate than Grayceon; though the track’s mid-point is delectably relaxing (and sounds like Grayceon actually, not just because of Gratz).

While both bands are a tad different — they are pushing the boundaries for modern music — Grayceon and Giant Squid should be on your need-to-hear list in 2008.