Efrim Menuck
Encyclopedia
Efrim Manuel Menuck is a Canadian
musician involved with a number of Montreal
-based bands, most notably Godspeed You! Black Emperor
and Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra. Menuck is also a frequent record producer
, working with musicians from Montreal and abroad.
, an influential instrumental rock
ensemble. Their first album, All Lights Fucked on the Hairy Amp Drooling
, is the earliest recorded document of Godspeed You! Black Emperor
. Self-released in December 1994, the cassette
was dubbed only 33 times. It was not until the release of their official debut album, F♯ A♯ ∞, that they began receiving recognition for their work.
Menuck is also responsible for the creation of Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band, along with fellow Godspeed You! Black Emperor alumni Sophie Trudeau
and Thierry Amar
. Originally conceived as an aid to Menuck in learning how to score
music, the group has since blossomed into a regular collaboration.
When He Has Left Us Alone but Shafts of Light Sometimes Grace the Corner of Our Rooms...
debuted, it was notable in that it included vocals by Menuck and his band mates; this was in contrast with the taciturn Godspeed You! Black Emperor. However, Constellation
states on the biography for Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band that Menuck did in fact sing vocals before the creation of the group on a "rare 1996 GYBE cassette release". Whether or not that is a reference to All Lights Fucked on the Hairy Amp Drooling
is speculation, as the cassette was released in 1994. However, it is worth noting that Menuck, along with presumably other band members, can be heard singing along with a guitar line on the track "East Hastings" from the 1998 release of F♯ A♯ ∞, perhaps conducting the playing.
While the music of Godspeed You! Black Emperor was marked by its sampling and symphonic development, Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band more regularly incorporated lyrics
as well. Menuck confessed to being at odds with the role of the singer in bands, noting that lyricists are often featured as the main attraction at the expense of their bands. He also felt uncomfortable with his own singing, but has since overcome that feeling. Menuck often shares vocal duty with all the other members of A Silver Mt. Zion.
The lyrical style of Menuck is best described as poetic. The topics of his lyrics range from the fear and loneliness experienced while driving alone on an American
highway
at night to urban
decay, and even a tribute to a deceased pet dog. Indeed, This Is Our Punk-Rock, Thee Rusted Satellites Gather + Sing, the third album by Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band, was essentially created as a requiem for open and abandoned spaces in Montreal, as well as for similar loss and decay around the world, due to either urban development or military action. Menuck is also known for integrating politics into song titles, lyrics, and album cover art for A Silver Mt. Zion. As such, references to anarchism
and anti-war
viewpoints are often expressed.
While Menuck sometimes utilizes religious imagery in the lyrics and albums of Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band, and described the recording sessions of He Has Left Us Alone but Shafts of Light Sometimes Grace the Corner of Our Rooms... a "Jewish experience", he does not consider himself an adherent of the Jewish faith, quoted in one source as saying "I don’t go to synagogue, I don’t believe that there’s a God in heaven, I don’t believe in any of that stuff". With Born into Trouble as the Sparks Fly Upward
, the band references the Book of Job
Ch. 5:7. Menuck has been an outspoken critic of the Israeli government; the liner notes for Yanqui U.X.O criticize Ariel Sharon
's 2000 visit to the Temple Mount
.
Along with Howard Bilerman
, Radwan Moumneh and Thierry Amar, Menuck owns and operates the Hotel2Tango
, a loft space that acts as a practice area, recording studio
, and one of the very few non-commercial venues in Montreal capable of accommodating live concert
s. The studio was originally confined to the recordings of friends and the bands of the people who own it, but has of late opened its doors to a multitude of other bands. As such, Menuck can often be found in album credits for a wide variety of bands as the record producer
. When presented with the opportunity, he will often contribute musically to making the album
, contributing guitar
or sound effects.
In 2006, Menuck, with Sophie Trudeau and Thierry Amar, assisted in the recording of Carla Bozulich
's first release for Constellation Records, Evangelista
.
On August 5, 2009, Silver Mt. Zion violinist Jessica Moss
gave birth to her and Menuck's baby, Ezra Steamtrain Moss Menuck. The couple took him on tour with Vic Chesnutt
. Menuck's first official solo project was released via Constellation Records on May 24, 2011. The album is entitled Plays "High Gospel"
.
Menuck also contributes small samples and guitar work to various artists for whom he produces; these are not listed here.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
musician involved with a number of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
-based bands, most notably Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Godspeed You! Black Emperor is a Canadian post-rock band which originated from Montreal, Quebec in 1994...
and Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra. Menuck is also a frequent record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, working with musicians from Montreal and abroad.
Biography
In 1994, Mauro Pezzente, Mike Moya, and Menuck founded Godspeed You! Black EmperorGodspeed You! Black Emperor
Godspeed You! Black Emperor is a Canadian post-rock band which originated from Montreal, Quebec in 1994...
, an influential instrumental rock
Instrumental rock
Instrumental rock is a type of rock music which emphasizes musical instruments, and which features very little or no singing.Examples of instrumental rock can be found in practically every subgenre of rock, often from musicians who specialize in the style, most notably Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Link...
ensemble. Their first album, All Lights Fucked on the Hairy Amp Drooling
All Lights Fucked on the Hairy Amp Drooling
All Lights Fucked on the Hairy Amp Drooling is the earliest release from Canadian experimental musical collective Godspeed You! Black Emperor. It was published on cassette in December 1994 and limited to 33 copies. At this point, the group consisted only of Efrim Menuck, Mauro Pezzente, and Mike Moya...
, is the earliest recorded document of Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Godspeed You! Black Emperor is a Canadian post-rock band which originated from Montreal, Quebec in 1994...
. Self-released in December 1994, the cassette
Compact Cassette
The Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel...
was dubbed only 33 times. It was not until the release of their official debut album, F♯ A♯ ∞, that they began receiving recognition for their work.
Menuck is also responsible for the creation of Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band, along with fellow Godspeed You! Black Emperor alumni Sophie Trudeau
Sophie Trudeau
Sophie Trudeau is a Canadian musician. She is best known for being a member of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and co-founder of Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band with Efrim Menuck and Thierry Amar...
and Thierry Amar
Thierry Amar
Thierry Amar is a Canadian musician. He is most notable for participating in Godspeed You! Black Emperor, as well as being co-founder of Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band with Efrim Menuck and Sophie Trudeau. Amar also participates with Black Ox Orkestar, a Yiddish folk...
. Originally conceived as an aid to Menuck in learning how to score
Sheet music
Sheet music is a hand-written or printed form of music notation that uses modern musical symbols; like its analogs—books, pamphlets, etc.—the medium of sheet music typically is paper , although the access to musical notation in recent years includes also presentation on computer screens...
music, the group has since blossomed into a regular collaboration.
When He Has Left Us Alone but Shafts of Light Sometimes Grace the Corner of Our Rooms...
He Has Left Us Alone but Shafts of Light Sometimes Grace the Corner of Our Rooms...
-CD edition:-Personnel:A Silver Mt. Zion*Thierry Amar – double bass, bass guitar, production*Efrim Menuck – piano, guitar, organ, vocals, radio, production*Sophie Trudeau – violin, vocalsOther musicians...
debuted, it was notable in that it included vocals by Menuck and his band mates; this was in contrast with the taciturn Godspeed You! Black Emperor. However, Constellation
Constellation Records
Constellation Records is an influential Montreal, Quebec independent record label known for its contributions to experimental genres of music. It is most famous for releasing the albums of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band, and Do Make Say...
states on the biography for Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band that Menuck did in fact sing vocals before the creation of the group on a "rare 1996 GYBE cassette release". Whether or not that is a reference to All Lights Fucked on the Hairy Amp Drooling
All Lights Fucked on the Hairy Amp Drooling
All Lights Fucked on the Hairy Amp Drooling is the earliest release from Canadian experimental musical collective Godspeed You! Black Emperor. It was published on cassette in December 1994 and limited to 33 copies. At this point, the group consisted only of Efrim Menuck, Mauro Pezzente, and Mike Moya...
is speculation, as the cassette was released in 1994. However, it is worth noting that Menuck, along with presumably other band members, can be heard singing along with a guitar line on the track "East Hastings" from the 1998 release of F♯ A♯ ∞, perhaps conducting the playing.
While the music of Godspeed You! Black Emperor was marked by its sampling and symphonic development, Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band more regularly incorporated lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
as well. Menuck confessed to being at odds with the role of the singer in bands, noting that lyricists are often featured as the main attraction at the expense of their bands. He also felt uncomfortable with his own singing, but has since overcome that feeling. Menuck often shares vocal duty with all the other members of A Silver Mt. Zion.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
at night to urban
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
decay, and even a tribute to a deceased pet dog. Indeed, This Is Our Punk-Rock, Thee Rusted Satellites Gather + Sing, the third album by Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band, was essentially created as a requiem for open and abandoned spaces in Montreal, as well as for similar loss and decay around the world, due to either urban development or military action. Menuck is also known for integrating politics into song titles, lyrics, and album cover art for A Silver Mt. Zion. As such, references to anarchism
Anarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
and anti-war
Anti-war
An anti-war movement is a social movement, usually in opposition to a particular nation's decision to start or carry on an armed conflict, unconditional of a maybe-existing just cause. The term can also refer to pacifism, which is the opposition to all use of military force during conflicts. Many...
viewpoints are often expressed.
While Menuck sometimes utilizes religious imagery in the lyrics and albums of Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band, and described the recording sessions of He Has Left Us Alone but Shafts of Light Sometimes Grace the Corner of Our Rooms... a "Jewish experience", he does not consider himself an adherent of the Jewish faith, quoted in one source as saying "I don’t go to synagogue, I don’t believe that there’s a God in heaven, I don’t believe in any of that stuff". With Born into Trouble as the Sparks Fly Upward
Born into Trouble as the Sparks Fly Upward
"Born into Trouble as the Sparks Fly Upward." is the second album of the Canadian band The Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band...
, the band references the Book of Job
Book of Job
The Book of Job , commonly referred to simply as Job, is one of the books of the Hebrew Bible. It relates the story of Job, his trials at the hands of Satan, his discussions with friends on the origins and nature of his suffering, his challenge to God, and finally a response from God. The book is a...
Ch. 5:7. Menuck has been an outspoken critic of the Israeli government; the liner notes for Yanqui U.X.O criticize Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon is an Israeli statesman and retired general, who served as Israel’s 11th Prime Minister. He has been in a permanent vegetative state since suffering a stroke on 4 January 2006....
's 2000 visit to the Temple Mount
Temple Mount
The Temple Mount, known in Hebrew as , and in Arabic as the Haram Ash-Sharif , is one of the most important religious sites in the Old City of Jerusalem. It has been used as a religious site for thousands of years...
.
Along with Howard Bilerman
Howard Bilerman
Howard Bilerman is a Canadian recording engineer, producer, and Grammy nominated musician. He is a former member of the band Arcade Fire, having recorded & drummed on their debut album, Funeral, as well as records by Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band, Vic Chesnutt, Basia...
, Radwan Moumneh and Thierry Amar, Menuck owns and operates the Hotel2Tango
Hotel2Tango
The Hotel2Tango is a 24-track analogue recording studio situated in the Mile End district of Montreal, Quebec. The current facility is the second to bear the name, and was preceded by a similar operation in the same neighborhood until 2007 when the studio changed locations...
, a loft space that acts as a practice area, recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
, and one of the very few non-commercial venues in Montreal capable of accommodating live concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s. The studio was originally confined to the recordings of friends and the bands of the people who own it, but has of late opened its doors to a multitude of other bands. As such, Menuck can often be found in album credits for a wide variety of bands as the record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
. When presented with the opportunity, he will often contribute musically to making the album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
, contributing guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
or sound effects.
In 2006, Menuck, with Sophie Trudeau and Thierry Amar, assisted in the recording of Carla Bozulich
Carla Bozulich
Carla Bozulich is an American musician based in Los Angeles, known for her work as the lead singer, lyricist and founder of both The Geraldine Fibbers and and as a founding member of Ethyl Meatplow. Her 2006 album, Evangelista, was released by Constellation Records, that label's first release by a...
's first release for Constellation Records, Evangelista
Evangelista
Evangelista may refer to:People with the given name Evangelista:* Evangelista Santos , Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter* Evangelista Torricelli , Italian physicist and mathematician...
.
On August 5, 2009, Silver Mt. Zion violinist Jessica Moss
Jessica Moss
Jessica Moss is best known for playing violin and singing backing vocals in the Canadian post-rock band Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band since 2001, and is a founding member of Black Ox Orkestar....
gave birth to her and Menuck's baby, Ezra Steamtrain Moss Menuck. The couple took him on tour with Vic Chesnutt
Vic Chesnutt
James Victor "Vic" Chesnutt was an American singer-songwriter from Athens, Georgia. His first album, Little, was released in 1990, but his breakthrough to commercial success didn't come until 1996 with the release of Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation, a tribute album of mainstream artists...
. Menuck's first official solo project was released via Constellation Records on May 24, 2011. The album is entitled Plays "High Gospel"
Plays "High Gospel"
Plays "High Gospel" is the debut album from Canadian musician Efrim Menuck, best known for his work as a founding member of Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Thee Silver Mt. Zion. The album is alternating instrumental and vocal, an aspect of his work which begun with the Mt Zion album Horses in the...
.
Guitars
- Gibson Les PaulGibson Les PaulThe Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
- Fender JaguarFender JaguarThe Fender Jaguar is an electric guitar introduced in 1962. A descendant of the Jazzmaster, the Jaguar quickly caught on in the emerging Surf music scene...
– Sunburst, modified with a humbucker in the neck position and a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece - Travis BeanTravis BeanClifford Travis Bean was an American luthier and machinist from California.In 1974, he partnered with Marc McElwee and Gary Kramer to start Travis Bean Guitars, which made high-end electric guitars and basses featuring machined aluminum necks. This was an unusual design, departing from more...
- Mosrite 'The Ventures' Mach 1MosriteMosrite is an American guitar manufacturing company, based in Bakersfield, California, from the late 1950s to the early 1990s. Founded by Semie Moseley, Mosrite guitars were played by many rock and roll and country artists....
(A Silver Mt Zion) - Gibson ES-225Gibson ES-225The Gibson ES-225 is a thinline hollowbody electric guitar model produced by the Gibson Guitar Corporation between 1955 and 1959. It is notable as the first thinline hollowbody guitar produced by Gibson.-Model history:...
(A Silver Mt Zion)
Godspeed You! Black Emperor
- All Lights Fucked on the Hairy Amp DroolingAll Lights Fucked on the Hairy Amp DroolingAll Lights Fucked on the Hairy Amp Drooling is the earliest release from Canadian experimental musical collective Godspeed You! Black Emperor. It was published on cassette in December 1994 and limited to 33 copies. At this point, the group consisted only of Efrim Menuck, Mauro Pezzente, and Mike Moya...
demo (1994) - f♯a♯∞F♯A♯∞F♯ A♯ ∞ is the debut album of the Canadian post-rock band Godspeed You! Black Emperor. It was released twice, first in 1997 by Constellation Records and then again on 8 June 1998, by Kranky as an expanded edition that ran for 63:27...
(1997, ConstellationConstellation RecordsConstellation Records is an influential Montreal, Quebec independent record label known for its contributions to experimental genres of music. It is most famous for releasing the albums of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band, and Do Make Say...
) - aMAZEzine! 7" (1998, aMAZEzine!)
- Slow Riot for New Zerø KanadaSlow Riot for New Zerø Kanada-Reception:Users of the website, Rate Your Music, rated the album as the greatest EP of all time. -Personnel:*Thierry Amar — bass guitar*David Bryant — guitar, tapes*Bruce Cawdron — drums, percussion, keyboards...
EP (1999, Constellation) - Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to HeavenLift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to HeavenDisc two-Notes:*"Broken Windows, Locks of Love Pt. III" was originally named "3rd Part."*"She Dreamt She Was a Bulldozer, She Dreamt She Was Alone in an Empty Field" was originally named "John Hughes", presumably after the film director....
(2000, Constellation) - Yanqui U.X.O.Yanqui U.X.O.U.X.O. is the third studio album by the Canadian post-rock band Godspeed You! Black Emperor. It was produced and recorded by musician Steve Albini at the Electrical Audio in Chicago, Illinois in late 2001...
(2002, Constellation)
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band
- He Has Left Us Alone but Shafts of Light Sometimes Grace the Corner of Our Rooms...He Has Left Us Alone but Shafts of Light Sometimes Grace the Corner of Our Rooms...-CD edition:-Personnel:A Silver Mt. Zion*Thierry Amar – double bass, bass guitar, production*Efrim Menuck – piano, guitar, organ, vocals, radio, production*Sophie Trudeau – violin, vocalsOther musicians...
(2000, Constellation) - Born into Trouble as the Sparks Fly UpwardBorn into Trouble as the Sparks Fly Upward"Born into Trouble as the Sparks Fly Upward." is the second album of the Canadian band The Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band...
(2001, Constellation) - "This Is Our Punk-Rock," Thee Rusted Satellites Gather + Sing, (2003, Constellation)
- The "Pretty Little Lightning Paw" E.P. (EP, 2004, Constellation)
- Horses in the SkyHorses in the SkyHorses in the Sky is the fourth album by the Canadian post-rock band Silver Mt. Zion, this time under the alias Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band. This is the first Silver Mt...
(2005, Constellation) - 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons13 Blues for Thirteen Moons13 Blues for Thirteen Moons is the fifth full-length album by the Canadian post-rock group, Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band. The album was released in March 2008...
(2008, Constellation) - Kollaps TradixionalesKollaps TradixionalesKollaps Tradixionales is the sixth full-length album by the Canadian post-rock group, Thee Silver Mt. Zion under the name Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra. The album was released in February 2010 on Constellation Records. The songs "I Built Myself a Metal Bird," "I Fed My Metal Bird the...
(2010, Constellation)
Efrim Manuel Menuck (Solo Album)
- Plays "High Gospel"Plays "High Gospel"Plays "High Gospel" is the debut album from Canadian musician Efrim Menuck, best known for his work as a founding member of Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Thee Silver Mt. Zion. The album is alternating instrumental and vocal, an aspect of his work which begun with the Mt Zion album Horses in the...
(2011, Constellation) - (2011, Constellation)
Menuck also contributes small samples and guitar work to various artists for whom he produces; these are not listed here.
External links
- A Silver Mt. Zion official website
- Constellation Records official website
- DON’T LOVE MUSIC EVER IT’LL ONLY BREAK YR. HEART o.k.?;(for mr. bobby darin) - An essay by Efrim Menuck
- Godspeed You Black Emperor! and the Politics of Chaos - An essay by Brad Weslake from the zine Neo-Industrial Opera