Magic Lantern/hop-frog kollectiv split

Hop-frog kollectiv and Magic Lantern nearly run right off the edges of their respective records, penning songs so long they often test the limits of black wax. The two bands channel different kinds of drones—hop-frog kollectiv moans with Asian inspiration, Magic Lantern amplifies a kraut kind of sound—but it’s fitting to find both sharing space on this split put out by hop-frog’s URCK label. Though it’s home to more than just one sound, URCK’s artists tend to push Eastern influences through their Western filters, resulting in songs a lot like Sublime Frequencies-style field recordings replicated with better equipment. hop-frog’s contribution to the split, “Somba,” follows that formula by playing off the exotic. Chinese instruments like the yangqin (a dulcimer) and ruan (the so-called moon guitar) are used, as are Silvertone and Hammond organs on loan from {open}’s shea M gauer. The song takes a few turns, but it’s centered on a monastic hum that clears your head for a good 21 minutes. On the other side is “Underwater Dynasty,” Magic Lantern’s first new song since the band’s High Beams full-length. But “Dynasty” sounds nothing like that record, instead opting for a rush of bells, piano and nearly nonexistent drums that takes you down a slow, submersible-like descent. But if this oceanic trip is supposed to bring on the bends, this split is the remedy—an album to be administered for pure serenity.

HOP-FROG KOLLECTIV/MAGIC LANTERN SPLIT AVAILABLE ON URCK RECORDS | URCKRECORDS.COM | HOP-FROG.COM | MYSPACE.COM/MAGICLANTERNMAKO

Tags: Album Reviews, hop-frog kollectiv, magic lantern, Music