Valium Aggelein – Black Moon (2xLP)

Right around the time they were making their slowcore classic Stratosphere, the trio of musicians who made up the band Duster were also recording under the name Valium Aggelein. Their approach was similar on the surface; both bands stretched out indie rock tropes until they were elongated explorations into simplicity, repetition, and space that carried a surprising amount of emotional weight. Here, though, the trio weren't as interested in writing songs as they were in making sounds, largely improvising the music and letting the voices appear sparingly if at all. They made a cassette titled Dweller on the Threshold in 1997 that was made up of sonic fragments and staticky instrumentals, then in 1998 recorded Hier Kommt Der Schwartze Mond. The record is made up of long, quietly unmoored excursions into the artful side of indie rock with heavy influence from German bands and the same groups that Duster derived so much from, like Codeine. 

- AllMusic.com