Health’s new album starts of slow. 30 seconds of near silence slowly builds into tribal drum and solemn organ. Eventually, the guitars start to hit and the cymbals crash and the entire first song, “Heaven,†crescendos into silence, followed, after a few beats, by a loan chime of the organ. So, is this a gentle instrumental record? No. In fact, it fits in more with the noisy, up-and-downs of Husker Du, Parts & Labor, Black Dice . . . It’s not the kind of sound you immediately fall in love with. At least I didn’t. But there’s an energy here, a vibe of excitement and anything-can-happen randomness in tunes like Girl Attorney and Triceratops, that rewards hard listening. If you’re looking for something accessible, this isn’t for you. But if you’re a fan of the offbeat and inventive, this may just be the ticket!
