Genre(s): Math Rock
Release Date: June 21st, 2007
My Rating: 4.5/5
"Astero" by 37500 Yens is one of the best Math Rock albums every released. Written and performed by two incredibly obscure French guys, all we know are their first names: Jud on guitar and Frank on drums. Frank is one of the best drummers I've ever heard, somehow able to give structure to a fractal polyrhythmic heaven. Jud is a magician on the guitar, playing what sometimes sounds like three guitars at once through masterful usage of what I assume are looping and delay pedals.
Of particular note are tracks 5 (Canard Boiteux) and 8 (The Sullivan's Quartet) both of which add a little extra on top of guitar and drums. Canard Boiteux features a four minute John Zorn-esque saxaphone freak-out which offers a much needed reprieve from the heavy guitars. The climax on The Sullivan's Quartet features the only vocals on the whole album, in the form of agonizing screams.
"Astero" is truly unique, not just in Math Rock but in all music
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/6uwPiAADXiJ1So8L6EFCti
Review Date: June 05, 2024
Last Updated: N/A