This one is a tough find, people. The tour-only CDr known as Aquarian Downer — which was sold on the White Hills UK tour in 2008 — was limited to just 50 copies. Yikes. Thank God White Hills and Gnod have collaborated a few more times since then (the 2009 spring tour CD-r entitled Drop Out and the more-widespread 2010 collaboration God Drop Out With White Hills II).
The CDr begins with three minutes of pure white noise, pulsating and vibrating with energy. “Hard Butter Reality” is total eastern trance; real opium den-fare. “Subordinate Contact” transforms into a more ethereal, spaced-out vibe, very minimal and serene. The title track is a trip. Tribal rhythms, swirling effects, and chilling drones. The final track, “When You Are Old” is an increasingly chaotic, crumbling epic. What begins in utter silence slowly builds to a frenzy of washed-out sounds vying for attention before returning into nothingness. Total fucking awesomeness.
It’s surprising and amazing to hear these two bands with reputations for psychedelic rock freakouts recording such restrained, ambient music. Five tracks, 49 minutes, movements between loud and soft, slow and frantic. The distorted synths dominate the mix with little-to-no guitar to be found. Aquarian Downer is most-definitely a unique listening experience for any White Hills fans.
White Hills / Gnod
Aquarian Downer
White Hills Music, 2008
MediaFire DL Link
01. Belonging
02. Hard Butter Reality
03. Subordinate Contact
04. Aquarian Downer
05. When You Are Old
