I.M.A.O. – “Eraser’s Fantasy” by Giant Claw
Hey! A new edition of In My Awesome Opinion where I kiss the ass of a new prog-rock album. I love prog. There may be a time where prog “dies,” but for now, I’m just riding a wave of awesome. Maybe sometime, I’ll write a timely review of a new album of a band in a genre that I don’t favor (most of bands and genres fall into this categorization), but for now…
I’m very glad to say that Progressive Rock is not dead. Some may think that The Mars Volta rejuvenated it for the Hot-Topic generation, but all I can say is … nah, dude. TMV had one good album and kept getting full of them selves, trying to one up each other any chance they get. Dream Theater has done this for years. Thankfully, there are composers and bands out that that keeps the flame burning how it should be: unabashedly nerdy, skillfully played and make the listener stop whatever they are doing, so that they can make the “oh shit this is epic”-claw hand. Eraser’s Fantasy by Giant Claw keeps the spirit alive.
Sometime last month, my friends over at Pause released the digital version of Giant Claw’s “Eraser’s Fantasy.” Before I heard this album, I knew that this is the work of a one Keith Rankin who is one of the two synth players in Yakuza Heart Attack, one of my favorite new bands. I have been listening to this album for the past few weeks, trying to digest and absorb it as best I can, so I can make an informed decision and speak at length about it using more words than “killer, man.” After careful consideration, I can safely say that this album is fucking amazing.
The first thing I noticed while putting on Eraser’s Fantasy was that it was ear-shattering loud. For those of you unfamiliar with the world of audio engineering, this album uses a technique known as brick-wall mastering. Basically, this album sounds like its about to destroy your speakers at any moment. I know for a fact that this aspect of the album is a turn off for some people. While I’m not against the mastering, I would not have chosen it had it been my album, and gives it a claustrophobic feel sometimes. Just like Yakuza Heart Attack II, the production is the only negative aspect of this album I can think of. Once you get past the distortion and the lack of headroom, you get sucked into a maddening world of gorgeous chaos.
More than a few people have compared this album to Emerson Lake and Palmer’s Tarkus album, and while I see the connection, I think it goes light years beyond that (better album art too). Eraser’s Fantasy takes that connection, sonically sharpens it into a stick, murders Greg Lake, breaks off a bloody bit, and gives to Keith Emerson to put into a crack pipe. The melodies are scatter-shot and momentary, giving you only a brief time to appreciate them, but when they’re there, they are strong. At times, brooding and thoughtful, others regal and triumphant and the rest of the time completely fucked up in the most beautiful way. Everything blends together into a seamless aural quest. Personally, I think it kicks the shit out of any ELP record.
There is not a bad or boring song on this album. It is an obvious thing to compare this to Rankin’s other band. If you listen to both bands, the similarities are obvious, but YHA keeps the melodies reined in and more linear, more “poppy” if you will. Giant Claw songs are not reined in, they are melodies that are hard to remember, but it works out in favor for the album, as every listening of this album is almost like listening to it for the first time, and every listen has a new surprise ready for you around each sonic corner. Squeamish listeners need not apply – if you have to have a catchy or hooky melody every couple of measures, you will not enjoy this album. Coincidentally, fans of bands like Don Caballero and Bozart might find stuff to like, despite the absence of guitars. If you ever wanted to hear prog-rock at its most pissed off, most noisy, most ugly venom-spitting mood, then your album has arrived.
It is my hope that Rankin and his crew continue to honor the masters of the past while besting them every step of the way.
You can download the whole album for free here.
You can buy it in cassette form here.
Yakuza Heart Attack is playing in Fort Worth on July 31st at Bible Belt Bitfest 2. Be there.