Going Places

In 2008, American noise duo Yellow Swans announced their decision to split. The news was a shock to the noise community, but the duo neglected to announce that a final album was already in the works. 'Going Places' is the duo's conclusion as an entity, and their crowning achievement. The collection is distilled and reflective, retaining the grit and damage of their earlier work but adding layers of harmony and pulsing rhythms. The improvisational, psychedelic washes are tempered and controlled. The drifting, subtle beauty of Gabriel Mindel's guitar is allowed to play foil to Peter Swanson's piercing noise. Comparisons could be made to Tim Hecker or even Brian Eno in parts, but Yellow Swans' harsher edge sets them apart.