November 13, 2012

Jodis - Black Curtain

Review by Aaron Sullivan.


A supergroup of sorts Jodis features Aaron Turner (Isis, Old Man Gloom, Mamiffer), James Plotkin (Khanate, OLD), and Tim Wyskida (Khanate, Blind Idiot God) and their second Ambient Drone album called Black Curtain

Sparse. That is the word that best describes this album. An economy of notes. Plotkins guitars are like subdued sonic waves. Chords struck and allowed to resonate into the darkness. Wyskida’s drumming adds texture with deliberate strikes meant to accent the songs as opposed to simply keeping a beat. Turners vocals are made of quiet melancholy in a way I have never heard from him before. In fact his vocal approach on this album is a big step forward from their first album. Jodis’ sound have much more in common with Khanate or Jesu than Isis. In fact if you crossed Khanate with later era Earth, this may very well be how the music would sound. Songs move at a snails pace and envelops the listener with a feeling of floating in isolation. While Turner’s vocals are your guide through it all.

As many know, Hydra Head is closing it’s doors. And while that is sad news. If this is one of the last albums they release before doing so, then they are going out with a bang. Let’s just hope that the end of Hydra Head does not mean the end of Jodis. Because with their second release it really feels as if this band is hitting it’s stride and has much more to say musically.


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