As Seen From Above

If raucous crushers like the Jesus Lizard and Shellac represented one extreme of Chicago’s sprawling ’90s underground, and tasteful sophisticates such as the Sea and Cake and Tortoise the other, Dianogah fell right in the center of that pack. A largely instrumental trio made up of two bassists — Jason Harvey and Jay Ryan, the latter also known as an accomplished poster artist — and drummer Kip McCabe, the band put a more approachable spin on the elliptical post-hardcore stylings of bands like Slint and Bitch Magnet. 

Unlike U.S. Maple and other contemporaries, Dianogah weren’t looking to confound: Their 1995 debut, As Seen From Above, has its more driving moments — such as “What Is Your Landmass,” with its tumbling 6/8 groove — but their core sound is patient and suffused with quiet wonder. “Seeing Stars,” which features a sing-song-y vocal from Ryan, highlights the band’s signature loping groove and ingenious two-bass weave, while “Colby” shows off McCabe’s knack for tasteful yet insistent beats. A gorgeously warm and vivid Steve Albini recording job caps an album that feels, in its own humble way, like an emblematic treasure of its time and place.