January 18–25, 2001

disc quicks|experimental

Hochenkeit

omu4h 4aholab/400 Boys

(Road Cone)

Just what you need: another instrumental, space rock, post-rock, Krautrock improvisation record. Seriously — you need to have this. While throb goblins like rhBand have moved away from organic drone-growing on the path to PowerBook enlightenment, it is a pleasure to hear Portland’s kosmische kats Hochenkeit keeping it analog and natural. The 1999 debut from this quartet, featuring members of the Irving Klaw Trio, was heavy on Eastern rhythms and curious electronics but relied too much on the odd-sounding instruments to make the record interesting. Just a year and a half later, the six long tracks on omu4h 4aholab/400 Boys affirm the work of a matured group with influences a little closer to home. While two pieces are full-on drones, the remainder are grounded in recognizable song structures. The songs then break down into slowly evolving improvisations collapsing on humming guitar, plodding percussion, harmonium sway, processed violins, and a few samples and exotic instruments. And the production, especially with so many things happening at once, sounds gorgeous even during the most intense moments. Road Cone’s press says that the album’s strange title comes from Aztec mythology: The 400 boys were ancient sources of debauchery and mayhem. But the Hochenkeit boys create a mellow, modern psychedelic record that looks South of the border for inspiration, that looks back in time, that looks East and looks West, but still manages to give a saturated post-rock market something to look forward to.

—Chris Nosal