Album Mini-review: Sunn O))) – Kannon
File next to: Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Earth, Glenn Branca
It’s easy to dismiss the pummeling, sludgy, drone-rock of Sunn O))) as noise; even fans of the group might happily admit that noise isn’t an unfair word to describe the group’s music. But behind the dense sonic curtain of their non-tempo music – there’s nothing in the way of a beat to establish a tap-your-foot baseline – there are clear hints of nuance and sophistication. The avant-garde work of Glenn Branca, with its intentional creation of overtones (i.e. the sonic suggestion of instruments and textures that aren’t really there) is a clear precedent for the three epic-length works that make up Kannon, the group’s seventh studio album. It’s malevolent music, to be sure, but sitting at home and absorbing Kannon is probably a safer and more rewarding endeavor than subjecting oneself to near-certain ear and/or nerve damage at a live show.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, will be published in December 2021 by HoZac Books.