Black Ox Orkestar - Nisht Azoy

Having spent nearly a year hibernation, Constellation Records (home of flagship post-rockers Godspeed You! Black Emperor) is back in bloom with a flurry of new releases including a sophomore release from the Black Ox Orkestar.

Black Ox Orkestar's "Nisht Azoy" (translated as "not like this") continues from where their debut "Ver Tanzt?" left off with its decidedly European Jewish folk tone incorporating yiddish melodies and middle-eastern harmonies tied together by klezmer tradition. This may all sound a tad alienating to the average indie rocker but with members from Silver Mt. Zion and Godspeed You! Black Emperor present Black Ox Orkestar manage to provide the familiar sense of brooding and malcontent that provides a context for listeners unfamiliar with Jewish folk and unable to comprehend vocals sung entirely in Yiddish. Nisht Azoy's real strength lies in it's eccentric energy that at times pulses with syncopated poundings of the drums and at others swoons with delicate violin melodies giving the entire album a raw, live feeling that transports the listener through an array of slightly quirky emotions.

It's three years now since Godspeed You! Black Emperor announced their indefinite hiatus and, according to popular belief, post-rock came to a grizzly end. With records like "Nishy Azoy" Constellation Records seem eager to demonstrate that there still is the same vibrant indie scene in Montreal, but as passionate as these records are, they can never recreate the ethereal quality present in the early releases - from when Post-Rock was at the forefront of relevant indie music.

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Coincidently Silver Mt. Zion have announced their intentions to release a new album this year as well as a live album. These releases will be supported with a tour covering most of Europe and North America. Hopefully that crazy orchestra/band/choir/thing will prove me wrong. You can get your hands on a bootleg of the brand new track "Blind, Blind, Blind" by clicking here.