Shadowcast Sun (ROI) | ‘Lucid; Dreamscape; Remedy’

There’s something about this cd that encourages repeat listening. Shadowcast Sun’s wispy atmos-heave has that most elusive quality of being both perfect background and foreground music. It wends its way tastefully by. Focus in however, and it’ll bear decent scrutiny too.

Shadowcast Sun, from Kildare, are doing what few others in the scene are at this moment. Their echoing, post rock sketchings are rather more futuristic than anyone else’s. Instead of the usual warm guitars gradually building to a crescendo - overused and boring at this stage - they’re more into expanding on three or four choice textures.

A sort of synthesized guitar voice dots most of these tracks, reminiscent of Allan Holdsworth or John McLaughlin’s electronic tones. Which is to say it doesn’t really sound like a typical electric guitar tone at all. It’s considerably softer.

There are no vocals, but rather musical progressions that go between soft and heavy as the album develops. Given the references above, it’s unsurprising that Meshuggah then come into play as the heavy guitars (which sound exceptionally heavy, as it happens) enter the frame.

Standout track ‘29 Seconds’ is the winner here. It’s highly Meshuggah-esque mid section shows superb command of both rhythm and atmosphere. So not only is there that incredible, pulsating bio=mech feel of the Swede’s best, but also there’s a chilling, constant synth in the background that just sounds pure evil.

The heaviness doesn’t last, and nether does it need to. By the album’s close, things have turned almost to the likes of Lycia for swathes of gentle atmosphere. ‘Oneiric’ shows that nicely, as well as just a little taste more of that massive guitar tone.

To over simplifiy, you could say they’re like a cross between Altar Of Plagues and Parhelia. That’s certainly not a bad mix, and it’s a jolly interesting one as well. It’s an immersive suite of tracks that prove their worth more and more with repeat listening. Which is highly encouraged.

- Earl Grey ::: 17/06/10