2002’s Black Earth is Bohren & Der Club of Gore’s 4th and arguably their best album. Glacially slow funeral jazz with an attention to ambience more than the playing (doesn’t mean that the playing is bad of course). Allmusic says it’s a black metal fan’s lounge jazz act which is surely true, but one thing that’s not familiar with BM is, Bohren’s music is somber and actually relaxing. The dark setting and the agonizingly slow tempo is lit by shimmering chords of rhodes and deep mallet instruments and from what I’ve experienced Black Earth gives me a very close feeling of playing drones especially while stoned : total peace and non-movement. The production on the album is also picture perfect soundwise kudos to Morten Gass who also plays the piano, guitars & mellotron. If you’re into Lynch flicks this can be the soundtrack for your own Lynch movie! Essential.

Maximum Black Earth

Bohren & Der Club of Gore - Maximum Black
Bohren & Der Club of Gore - Destroying Angels