Gwei-Lo

Gwei-Lo's sole album is 40 minutes of sublime and smartly arranged post-rock. The four-piece weaves their instruments around each other creating moody, atmospheric music that sounds like a jazzier Mogwai or a more focused Godspeed You Black Emperor! Guitarist Al Booker coaxes waves of melody from his guitar, mixing shoegazer distortion with cinematic noir. Dave Henson's keyboard and sampler work invoke Middle Eastern bazaars and chilly soundscapes. Jezz Spencer's drums work as a dynamic, vital counterpoint to the buzz of Booker's guitar. Spencer's drums are as fascinating as they are prominent in the mix. Chords chime and jangle in staccato flurries, shuffling found-sound samples evaporate and reappear, a synthesized organ creeps around the edges, and fragile tones reminiscent of Yo La Tengo and Micro-Ziq emerge from the ether. Sadly, Booker didn't live to see Gwei-Lo released. He died after collapsing on-stage at a Cambridge music festival. Keyboard player and sampler guru Dave Henson would later record as Mouse Finding the Key. Though Gwei-Lo ended in tragedy, these seven songs remain a testament to a talent that was just blossoming and a fusion of instruments that was truly special. ~ Tim DiGravina|