Skeletons & Candy: Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra - Kollaps Tradixionales (Constellation)

Beginning as a Godspeed You Black Emperor spin-off a decade ago, Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra (whose name has changed with nearly every release, albeit for the words Silver Mt. Zion), long outlasted Godspeed and have produced twice as many records. To the band's credit, although they utilizes the same basic template of chamber rock, each album has sounded unique, bearing its own personality. From the mournful minimalism of "He Has Left Us Alone, But Shafts of Light Sometimes Grace the Corners of Our Rooms" to the bombastic rock-n-roll of "13 Blues For Thirteen Moons," no Silver Mt. Zion album sounds alike. "Kollaps Tradixionales" is the band's sixth album and, unfortunately, the least distinctive of the band's oeuvre.

The album begins promisingly enough with "There Is A Light," a fifteen minute epic waltz that illustrates why Silver Mt. Zion is one of the most powerful bands on earth when they are firing on all cylinders. Combining folk, southern gospel and, of course, crushing agit-rock, the song soars to unbearable heights before smashing itself into bits. Lead singer and guitarist Efrim Menuck has the rare ability to sing rousing laments to idealism that easily rip your heart right out and bring tears to the eyes. This guy would absolutely kill at an Irish wake. "There Is A Light," is a perfect example of Efrim's gift, as he sings about attempting to craft a better world, facing defeat and striving to still believe in hope, even if there may be no reason to. It is gut-wrenching stuff that reaches beyond platitudes and into the most bare human experience of anyone who has ever looked at the injustice and horror of the world and said 'we can do better,' only to watch best intentions go up in flames. It is a sentiment that probably a lot of Americans can relate to these days. What further elevates the song, other than the music, is Efrim's, and by extension our own, complicated relationship with hope. At times he appears ready to abandon it, but then turns around and searches in earnest for its light.

"I Built Myself A Metal Bird" follows and explodes out of the speakers. All the musical subtly and beauty of "There Is A Light" is turned on its head as the band rips through an ugly tale of destruction. The song culminates with Efrim screaming "dance motherfucker," drawing on Charlie Sheen's horrific refrain during the torture of a disabled Vietnamese civilian in the film "Platoon." The fury of the band matches the fury of the lyrics. While folk and gospel may have been the musical inspiration for "Light," "Metal Bird" is pure punk rock, or rather chamber-punk. This is easily the band's most visceral song to date, and it is also one of their very best.

Unfortunately what started off so well slowly starts to stray off course. "I Fed My Metal Bird the Wings Of Other Metal Birds" is for the most part an instrumental reworking of the previous song, but deconstructed to its most basic elements. It is similar in nature to the post-rock drift that these guys and gals have been playing ever since Godspeed, but this time around it really isn't that interesting. There is a languid quality about the song that seems uninspired especially given that the band have just turned in two of their best songs ever.

"Kollapz Tradixional (Thee Old Dirty Flag)" continues the band's slide into mediocrity. It should be noted however that mediocrity for Silver Mt. Zion is usually better than most other band's best work. Part one of a triptych the song finds the band using the melody of "Scarborough Fair" to build a lament upon, and while that sounds like a good idea, the execution just isn't that interesting. "Collapse Tradicional (For Darling)" follows and finds the band continuing its languid approach, but the song is not a loss. Although it is the shortest song on the album at one minute and twenty-eight seconds, it is one of the album's most moving. Based on droning horns and strings, the band elevates the song by singing in unified upper registers. It is fragile, but gorgeous. The final piece in the title track trilogy is "Kollaps Tradicional (Bury 3 Dynamos)" The song finds the band back on solid ground as Efrim's guitar rips holes in the sky while drummer David Payant lays down a tribal march, and violinists Sophie Trudeau and Jessica Moss' strings soar above like a bird of prey. Drawing again on "Scarborough Fair," the song is part sea shanty and part battle march, and entirely awesome.

The album ends with "'Piphany Rambler." The song is a microcosm of the whole, reflective of all the highs and muddled lows of "Kollaps Tradixionales." Starting with more post-rock drift, the song suffers from a nearly narcoleptic beginning. Around the five minute mark the band finally kicks in with a midtempo stomp that brings the waltz begun with "There Is A Light" to a dark and ominous close. Efrim hits on the same lyrical touchstones as "Light," but the band sounds like they are playing at the end of the world, watching all the light being snuffed out forever. Yet even here, Silver Mt. Zion finds a small glimmer by which to lift itself. The song is slowly transformed from a death dirge into one of the most rousing pieces of music in the band's catalog. Trudeau and Moss' violins sound like a soul climbing out of hell as they fight their way above Efrim's bombastic guitar and Payant's bashing. It is an absolutely stunning turn and worthy of Silver Mt. Zion's greatness.

In the end "Kollaps Tradixionales" is an imperfect work full of perfect songs. It begins with some of the band's best work to date, suffers from a soft middle, and returns with a furious end. The album is far from a disappointment, but it it isn't a masterwork either, yet there are certainly elements of both. Even with its inconsistencies, this is an album that I can't help but give a high recommendation. To miss it would be to miss some of the best songs ever by one of the last decade's greatest artists. Just keep that fast-forward button handy for the middle section.

Listen to "Kollaps Tradicional (Bury 3 Dynamos)"

Listen to "I Built Myself A Metal Bird"