Formed : 1994 // Montreal, QC, Canada
GODSPEED YOU BLACK EMPEROR! is an experimental nine-piece from Montreal, Canada that specializes in semi-avant-garde instrumental music of haunting beauty. They've released five discs of music, with a grand total of eleven pieces of music, so you know they can write some extended ideas. Formed in 1995, GYBE! consists of Roger Tellier-Craig (guitar), Norsola Johnson (cello), Efrim Menuck (guitar), Mauro Pezzente (bass), David Bryant (guitar), Thierry Amar (bass), Sophie Trudeau (violin), Aidan Girt (percussion), and Bruce Cawdron (percussion). GYBE!'s music should probably be described as long, dark, moody, and brilliant. Their sound was once compared to Tangerine Dream, except that GYBE! uses no keyboards. They paint a similar sonic texture to Tangerine Dream, but they do it using cello, violin, upright bass, and three guitars, rather than synths. In fact, GYBE! is very organic, often bringing in spoken word samples, as well as glockenspiel.
NB: 'Godspeed You Black Emperor!' was the band's name until the release of 'Yanqui U.X.O.', when they moved the exclamation mark to give 'Godspeed You! Black Emperor', a more correct translation of the Japanese biker documentary they got it from.