Black Hole/Blank Canvas (Limited Edition)

Continuing their nearly unbroken string of unclassifiably terrific albums, Norwegian trio Motorpsycho deliver one of their finest with the epic Black Hole/Blank Canvas. A two-disc, 17-track set, Black Hole/Blank Canvas leans more to the group's drony psychedelic side than its heavier acid rock sound, with a stronger than usual overlay of sweetly melodic pop hooks to go along with all the pleasurably noisy guitars. The most accurate musical comparison is mid-'90s Yo La Tengo (circa Painful and Electr-O-Pura), although the band's fondness for '70s hard rock crops up from time to time as well. Most notably, the closing "With Trixeene Through the Mirror/Dream with Open Eyes" blends falsetto vocals and big guitar riffs in the tradition of vintage Boston or Blue Oyster Cult. Just about the only misstep is the epic "Before the Flood," which gets docked for its peculiarly off-key vocals, which sound oddly like they were sung by Screech from Saved by the Bell. Otherwise, Black Hole/Blank Canvas may well be Motorpsycho's best album yet, or at least their strongest since 2002's It's a Love Cult. ~ Stewart Mason|

ノルウェー最強のロック・バンドが、ドラマーの脱退を乗り越えて4年ぶりに完成させた新作。そのカオティックなエナジーには微塵の揺らぎもない。しかもヴォリュームたっぷりの2枚組で、苦難を〈攻め〉で押し返す、ガッシリとした手応えのロックンロールが渦巻いてる。とにかく音のひとつひとつが濃厚でエモーショナル。轟音を上げるギター・ノイズが星屑を散らし、煌めくシンフォニーを奏でる。まさに宇宙のファンタジー!
bounce (C)村尾 泰郎