Celebrating twenty years of sonic creativity, Swiss noise terrorists The Young Gods are releasing a superb retrospective, essential for both fans and newcomers alike. Formed in Switzerland in 1985, The Young Gods were one of the first actual bands (as opposed to producers) to truly appreciate and lock into the creative possibilities of sampling technology, utilising them alongside more traditional instruments. Their sounds straddled experimental rock and industrial dance, making them a challenging band to tune into initially, as they constantly fought with and wreaked havoc with differing music strands, never standing still between albums. “Fais La Mouette” illustrates their early approach perfectly – aggressive, energetic, hip-hop in attitude, peppered with sampled noise. Meanwhile, “Donnez les Esprits” – from 1995’s “Only Heaven” album – resides at the other end of the spectrum, proving that ambient music was more about engaging with the sound than switching off to it. Literally without equal, The Young Gods are one of the finest modern bands to have emerged from Europe. A vital part of any self-respecting music lover’s CD collection.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: DARREN WALL
