Search - Guapo :: Black Oni

Delicious, but near indigestible

Kevin Sapp | Pittsburgh, PA | 06/22/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Not quite sure how I feel about this album. It's a dark, brooding trip, lots of marching drums, alternately hypnotic and mesmerizing keyboards, and monolithic bass lines. The record is really one long suite, the track separations only existing to aid the listener if feeling overwhelmed. Regardless of the meticulous structuring of the piece, it still can't help retaining the feeling of one long, spacey jam. The first few times I listened something felt missing, then I put on headphones and whatever it was was no longer needed. This is a group you listen to attentively, on headphones, preferrably at night/in a dark place. Many reviews have bashed this for being unable to create cohesive melodies and powerful climaxes (a la Godspeed YBE), but this is not what this disk is trying to do. On a careful (headphone-aided, remember) listen, the album obviously avoids the revelatory feeling used on such records in order to create a truly cathartic record. Another thing that so many people miss is the influence beyond minimalism & Magma prog-fusion. There are heavy doses of advanced musique concrete and drone included in krautrock-like sense of experimentalism, but with a much more cohesive sound than kraut jams. This all means that Guapo is just doing their job; everything, from tracks and movements to sounds and music, melds so incredibly well that they are almost indistinguishable. I guess one could almost say that negative reviews are proof that Guapo have mastered their craft, if that craft is depression; after hearing this record, the reviewer is just unable to write anything positive. But maybe that's merely speculation..."

Brilliantly Unusual

Barry Dejasu | Rehoboth, Massachusetts | 04/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is not your everyday instrumental prog. Frantic and uptempo rhythms are laid out perfectly, often peppered by strange mellotron. And bizarre as the melodies can be, they are somehow memorable, even catchy! There are also some ambient breakdowns and interludes which can at times be downright creepy. Sound interesting to you? It's even more interesting when you listen to it."

In the right direction

J. Gustavson | Travelling | 03/19/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"One of the very few bands that take on the Soft's/Zeuhl/RIO tradition and do so well. Without being prententious, predictable, overintellectualised or strained they perform some relaxed pieces which often even seems to stretch the format a little bit. This could be developed further. So to reach perfection some more originality would be advised."