I don't like the term post rock. I don’t know what it’s supposed to encompass, have never known what it’s supposed to encompass, and even now as I write this, am too uninterested/indifferent/lazy to be arsed to look it up.
What I do know is Mogwai is supposed to be post rock. As are Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Mono and Explosions in the Sky. And what I think that tells me is that post rock is played by people who hate lead singers but alternatively, enjoy explorations into outer space, Furbies that morph into scaly monsters after a midnight snack, Fender Jaguars, violin bows and most of all, meandering musical passages that go nowhere in a hurry. Apparently, Sigur Rós are post rock too. I really don’t know about that. I mean, doesn’t Jonsi plays Les Pauls and Ibanezes? And yes it’s usually in a made-up language, but he does sing, right?
Anyway, this isn’t about Sigur Rós. Neither is it about post rock. I bring up the genre (or subgenre if you want to split hairs) simply because I've been hearing Space Gambus Experiment labelled as such.
Now, I don't necessarily know if Kamal Sabran, the man behind SGE, would consider his "band" as post anything. He may. He may not. Artists like Kamal normally don't care what you call their work, so long as you pay attention. Still, I do wonder if it's accurate to paint SGE’s music with the post rock brush simply because the sonic textures and soundscapes kinda recall the best of Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Mono’s second album...
Oh, who am I kidding? I don't know if it's post rock, because I have no fucking clue what post rock is! Meaning to say I wouldn’t know if SGE’s new album, First Steps Into Inner Space, was a direct rip-off of Come On Die Young or a bastardisation of F# A# ∞ or if, in fact, it recalls Mono’s second LP (what’s it called again?).
I think I may have heard the Mogwai record when it came out. Maybe. But it’s all kinda hazy now. Did Uncut call it the best thing since Dark Side of the Moon? No, wait, I seem to be mixing them up. Maybe it was F# A# ∞ that sounded like Dark Side? Or maybe it was the Explosions album. Wait, wait, what about The Soft Bulletin? Yes, yes, I know the Flaming Lips aren’t considered post rock but Uncut (or was it Mojo?) claimed The Soft Bulletin was like Dark Side, right? And if that is true, what about Come On Die Young then, huh?!?!
Anyway, just so we’re clear, SGE’s First Steps Into Inner Space does not sound at all like Dark Side of the Moon so don’t even bother attempting to synchronise it with the MGM lion’s third roar. I’ll admit there’re some Floyd-an points of reference, but we’re talking the band of Astronomy Domine, Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun and Several Species of Small Furry Animals… rather than the one that loved taking strolls through Oz.
A-ha! I know what you’re thinking: First Steps is progressive then, not post.
Well, maybe. There’re bits from One Day I Will Find The Right Words And They Will Be Simple and Follow Your Moonlight; Don’t Hide the Madness which sound prog-y, kinda. And true, there are nods to Hawkwind and King Crimson and if you were to sip milk tea in a fox suit while listening to it, Genesis too. But full-on prog rock? I don’t know, man. I don’t hear real progressive arrangements to be honest. Or rather, I don’t hear classic Waters/Fripp/Gabriel/Latimer/Hammill progressive arrangements. Furthermore, despite the occasional screeches and cat noises there’s nothing on First Steps quite as stupid as Hocus Pocus by Focus (look it up on YouTube. The 1973 Midnight Special performance is a must watch!), so I don't know if I'm more comfortable swapping post for prog. Plus, Kamal may not appreciate that. I mean, SGE in the same class as Focus? Who'd ever want that?!
So if it's not prog, could it be experimental? Well, I suppose.
It's not avant garde like Trout Mask Replica, mind. Or Revolution 9. Or Silver Apples. But it definitely ventures into the unknown on the strength of vocoder-ed vox, retro synths and electro swishes.
Kinda like Die Mensch·Maschine.
And Tubular Bells.
And Here Come the Warm Jets.
And even Fripp & Eno’s Evening Star.
Are those Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s touchstones? Mono’s? (They’re not Sigur Rós’, I can tell you that!) If they are, then maybe you could classify SGE’s sophomore set as post rock. Or maybe you could just point to Oldfield and Fripp and call the record prog. Or maybe you'd prefer instead to classify it as avant garde.
Me, I give up. Fuck the labels 'cause I’m gonna call First Steps Into Inner Space what it truly is: Brilliant, poignant, compelling, beautiful, dazzling, ethereal and, from beginning to end, an excellent fucking record.
Not just the best Malaysian record of 2013, but the best record of 2013! That it was born in Ipoh, Perak is a bonus.
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