Continuing Instant Classic’s ace output this year, they’ll be releasing a new untitled split from Thaw and Echoes Of Yul on August 4, and have kindly given us a first play – have a listen above.
The bands have worked together, of sorts, before: Instant Classic’s re-release of Thaw’s self-titled album this year featured Echoes Of Yul reworking ‘Kiara’, and both bands have released on Italian imprint Avantgarde. The bands point to Swans’ expansive songs-cum-rituals as a leaping-off point, and this chimes with the LP running to more than 40 minutes over just two tracks. Thaw’s ‘Earthed Ground’ is a masterwork in crushing layers, with ringing guitars and a mangle of church bells laid atop primal drumming that brings to mind, fittingly, Thor Harris. Echoes Of Yul’s ‘Asemic’, meanwhile, pares things back even further, shifting seismically from acoustic strokes and tense electronic hum to Bong-like creeping rhythmic heft.
"I’m glad that I could record something longer since usually there’s not enough space on albums to squeeze 20-minute tracks. This one was composed last year in a very inspiring place in the middle of a forest. Later on I came back to it once in a couple of weeks just to add some layers," says Echoes Of Yul’s Michał Śliwa of the record. Sadly, most of the 200 physical copies have already been laid claim to, but you can still pre-order digital versions over at the label’s Bandcamp.
