 Halaka
"A Translucent Gold Statue, A Hole" CDR
Self-released
Genres: experimental rock, avant-garde
e-mail the
band
Nov 10 - 16 2003 |
Halaka
has been around since 1979, in some form or other. Pseudonyms,
fake names, and dozens of bootlegs are all involved, but it's far too
complex and obscure to go over here. All you have to know is
that Halaka has been going on for a long, long time and that this
album, bafflingly entitled A Translucent Gold Statue, A Hole,
is one of their latest mindfucks.
Like Jandek, there is a serious amount of mystery embedded
in the Halaka name, and understandably there are a
number of obsessed collectors looking to unravel the mystery and find
all of the long lost cds, cassettes, and records. Parts of this
album make me wonder why. Other parts make it all so very clear.
The album starts on a good note with "More Than The
Mirror," a melodic, beautiful ride blending electronic
experimentation with beautiful guitar strums. "Pick His
Bones," meanwhile, is a noisy, feedback-drenched wall of guitar
experimentation and melodic avant-psychedelia.
"Coming Out of the Little Shells" is also creepily
infectious. On the other hand, "comingthroughmydoor"
is dull and "Peeling Off What You Keep" is a joke - almost
seventeen minutes of yelling and silliness.
A Translucent Gold Statue, A Hole will definitely be worth
it for collectors, but will probably just confuse those unaccustomed
to the band's sound. I know I'm confused. Intrigued,
perhaps, but confused. Anyhow, if this album does fall into your
hands, give it a few listens before you cast it away - it just may
grow on you.
79%
Matt Shimmer
[Vitals: 7 tracks, distributed by the
band, released 2001] |
