Deep Politics

VINYL FORMAT. When Grails released Doomsdayer's Holiday in 2008, it marked the end of a highly prolific and inspired three-year period. Combined with the official introduction of multi-instrumentalsit Emil Amos to the band, Grails finally had the rare chance to decompress and reinvent themselves. The result is Deep Politics, conceived during the lengthiest gestation period between Grails albums, and it reflects a deeper, more educated, level of concentration. In their ongoing exploration of occult/fringe culture and the rich history of film music, they have cultivated a unique environment that inspires both an eternal sense of longing and an indelible sense of dread.

The most immediately noticeable advances are the lush string arrangements and the increasing use of the same kind of fetishistic cut-and-paste production techniques that made producers like RZA and MF Doom hip-hop legends. It's a seemingly unlikely twist to the Grails aesthetic, but not unusual given they've explored just about every genre imaginable.