The missing link between the one-man-band indie simplicity of the Durutti Coloumn’s early albums and the slow-building post-rock grandeur of the likes of Godspeed You Black Emperor!, Et Ret’s Gasworks is an endlessly fascinating album. Primarily a guitarist and violinist, Et Ret adds organ, hand percussion, brief wordless vocal passages, and a bit of synth to these eight lengthy, slowly unfolding pieces. Generally, the songs start simply, with one or two instruments forming a basic pattern that’s elaborated upon and then slowly transformed by the additional instrumentation. Several memorable changes are worked on that basic schematic, making Gasworks a varied, subtle, and intriguing instrumental release. – Stewart Mason
more »