Godspeed You! Black Emperor - 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! [2012]
 

Previously unannounced and released at a show in Boston last night.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mb...snepo1_500.jpg

1. "Mladic"
2. "Their Helicopter's Sing"
3. "We Drift Like Worried Fire"
4. "Strung Like Lights at Thee Printemps Erable"

I love unannounced releases.

It's excellent. It's better than Yanqui and easily on par with Slow Riot. It's not going to outdo their classics, LYSF and F#A#, but it's definitely a worthy addition to their catalog.

Edit: btw, here's the artwork.
http://cdn.stereogum.com/files/2012/...end-Ascend.jpg

The first two tracks, 'Mladic' and 'Their Helicopters' Sing', didn't particularly grab me on the first listen, but 'We Drift Like Worried Fire' and 'Strung Like Lights At Thee Printemps Erable' are fantastic. Like previous GY!BE albums this will probably make a few listens to really get into but it is a welcome addition. Also, no monologues :(

Bloody hell I only found out about this album two hours ago, more bands should release albums with minimum notice. It makes things interesting and surprising.

I expected to give this a 'good' at best because I haven't really been into the post-rock much lately. But I was wrong. They had me at Mladic. Excellent.

Yep. This is my album of the year.

Sooo much better than Yanqui, I was quite let down by that album, it lacked almost everything that made me love this band in the first place (I blame Albini). This one is amazing, IMO right up there with lift your skinny fists.

The scratching (was it trying to create needle on vinyl or radio distortion between stations?) at the start of each track was irritating, but other than that minor fault I don't really have anything too negative to say about this record.

I'm not a big post-rock fanboy, I find the genre to be swamped in a small-minded pretension but this record was good.
The two 20 minute tracks were given the right amount of time to develop and progress, and you could hear the range of influences in the pieces.
The other two tracks were quicker paced but still structured incredibly tightly, every nuance had a purpose and wasn't just there for the sake of it.

A good album to listen to given the right frame of mind I'd like to wager.
I listened to this whilst at the loch (lake) today, and the album fitted the October setting.

I rated good.

The scratching was there because what you heard was a vinyl rip. There is no digital leak yet.

Ah, I see. I feel rather ridiculous now.

Will wait for the digital leak, or even buy it based on the good response it seems to be getting.

I'm abstaining until a CD release as well. I assume that's what you mean, a vinyl rip has been out there since around the time this thread was made.

I too will wait for a digital version, fortunately I've never been the most rabid of GY!BE fans so the wait is not excruciating.

I actually like the sound of the vinyl rip that I got (and of vinyl rips in general).
I may buy a CD but this album makes wish I was a vinyl geek.

CD is out.

Vinyl rips are hit or miss for me. Many times they lose too much fidelity to be worth the improved dynamic range.

I'm gonna order the vinyl once Constellation starts accepting orders again.

haha I am the only person who voted "average" :(

We regret to inform you that the following items have been delayed as we are still awaiting stock from our suppliers :

Godspeed You! Black Emperor "Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! [Vinyl]"
Estimated arrival date: October 27 2012 - November 13 2012

I was hoping that my pre-order would get me the album on its release date, which was my birthday.

I can only hope that it gets here further towards the October date then November. Mid-November would be ridiculous.

suddenly just downloading the vinyl rip doesn't seem like such a terrible idea.

Incredible album. I aboslutely love godspeed :3

Best album of the 2010's for me thus far. I don't see anything dethroning this for the remainder of 2012.

I don't understand. Why do I think its average?

maybe you dont have enough patience for this kind of music?

No, I have listened to all of their albums and much more challenging stuff. This is just boring to me.

well, diffrent people diffrent musical tastes I guess.
I find this album to be interesting and excellent all the way through

Yep, that sounds fair enough.

I think it is 'good', it's at beautiful as any GY! BE release, and being a fan of theirs in recent years (about 2008), I never got to see a release hit. So this along with how they released it under the radar was a very pleasant surprise.

Favorite track: Strung Like Lights at Thee Printemps Erable

i've been playing Mladic on the radio to get it noticed because it's ****ing awesome. I thought GY!BE releases were done for but i guess i'm wrong.

Was excellent. A strong 4/5.

Pretty difficult record to enjoy but like any Godspeed LP, it slowly drills it's sneaky harmonies inside your skull.

Controversially this might end up being my favourite album released by GY!BE, thought it was almost as good as LYSFLATH...