Harp Factory on Lake Street

Gastr Del Sol | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 7, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Table of Elements
• ASIN: B000E1159K
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #494,515 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Harp Factory on Lake Street

Editorial Reviews

In 1994, Chicago was the fountainhead for a bona-fide scene, in which bands gave timbre and texture priority over riffs and power chords. This "post-rock" was the definitive movement of the decade, and front and center were Gastr Del Sol, comprised of David Grubbs (previously: Squirrel Bait, Bastro) and Jim O'Rourke (subsequently: Wilco, Sonic Youth). Avant punk, atonal song-styling, delicate piano-guitar interplay, raw electronics, and modernist chamber music - all are fair terrain, traversed with subtlety and finesse. This re-issue is their notorious "big band" record, and the ten-piece ensemble is a veritable all-star team of mid-90's Chicagoans, including members of Tortoise, Sea And Cake, Shellac, Dazzling Killmen, Brise Glace, and The Vandermark 5. This is the band's boldest outing; a record full of blissful confoundment, one that aptly vivifies the spirit of an era. Gastr Del Sol are to the 1990s what The Magic Band, This Heat, and Sonic Youth were to their respective decades; intrepid trailblazers through the backwoods of sound.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Most experimental release., September 4, 2001

By 

"iechyd" (slc, ut, usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harp Factory (Audio CD)

I've heard almost all of Del Sol's work and this one shows the least of their pop/rock aspects. About half of this seventeen minute piece is slowly changing noise made from what sounds like traditional wind instruments that slowly builds up. And the last half is some of Grubbs piano/singing work. Though very slow and without much concern for melody. A very interesting piece though, with great dynamics and contrasts, but very avant-garde, so not for everyone, even Del Sol fans.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb., September 25, 2003

By 

mrbishope (Auckland New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harp Factory (Audio CD)

Imagine one beautiful discordant chord, played by massed brass & woodwind. Then stretch this chord out, further and further, slow it down as well, 'till it becomes not one unified sound but many howling instruments, slowly growing in intensity over time, an ominous bass clarinet growling under layers of shiny wailing brass, all the time growing in intensity and volume like the sun creeping over the mountains on a glorious day - a jazz infused epic avant garde composition like nothing I have come across in Gastr Del Sol's work before.
This is followed by a beautiful piano piece and O'Rourkes usual clever lyrical stylings.
While short, this ep is pure quality and worth every penny. Buy it.