Customer Reviews

At War With Walls and Mazes

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

At War with Walls and Mazes defies genre and proves that the mathematics of music can be bent and at times even broken. From minimal elevator sounds to orchestral grandeur, Son Lux is defiant, wondrous, and illuminating. "Betray" is by far the catchiest track on the album with it's psych-out beginning, head boppin beat, bluesy flute accompaniment- YEAH I SAID FLUTE- bluesy bass, steady background wail, and psych-out ending! This album is full of psych out moments- which really adds on to its artistic prowess. The most beautiful song on the album is "Break" - a tear may very well form in your eye. The song "Stand" will truly surprise you- as in expect the unexpected. When I envision lead vocalist Ryan Lott, thoughts that come to mind are "drunken lounge singer," "suicidal teenager," or "a robot with emotion." In some ways, Son Lux is the masculine version of Imogen Heap or Portishead. I can see fans of Enigma embracing the Son Lux sound as well.

I've been listening to this album for three days nonstop and I fear there is no end in sight. Two friends have listened to it and love it as well. Its a shame I'm the only person who has reviewed it!

My writing class is working with this in the backgroup as I write. They like the modern production/ spoken word sensibilities. I like the overall ambient nature of this musical explorations. Unlike "the drunkenpotato" review, I found this to be innovative music, regardless of the artist religious predelictions. Am I to not listen to any artist who quotes the bible? For Christ's sake that would block half of the artists making music. That's an awful high price too pay, not to mention somewhat bigotted. Personally I wouldn't have noticed that the lyrics were biblical: they seem like more of a flavoring than the main course.

I was initially fascinated by "Betray" which remains my favortite song after buying the whole MP3 album. "Betray" is set to an intentionally contradictory upbeat tempo. The words are simple allowing the listener to consider the nature of betrayal and faithfullness: "You will betray Me Baby and I will be true; I only ask may I share dinner with you."

"Stand" is likewise a single repeated meditative line. Son Lux, AKA Ryan Lott's work is reminiscent of Gavin Bryars' "Jesus Blood has Never Failed Me Yet." Son Lux also reminds me of Beirut but with his own unique phrasing, rich sounds and fractured tempos. (See last FM and the Son Lux Myspace page for full song samples and for the great Son Lux remix of Beirut's "Sunday Smile." from "The Flying Club Cup") A full stream of the album is also available on the Muxtape (com) site.

Son Lux's style might be called Emo, Minimalist or Electronica but the more important point is the wonderfully rich sounds and intensely poetic presentation of this album. Consider for example the implications of being "At War with Walls and Mazes" in "War" the implicit title track. Overall, this is wonderful melodic and meditative minimalist style music. The album arrangement of 11 tracks including prologue and epilogue suggest that this is intended as a minimalist opera. I recommend that you listen to the tracks in order, letting Son Lux's tale unfold as he intended it.

The song, "At War with Walls and Mazes", triggered a visualization of climbing a tree (maybe to escape the walls and mazes!) Poignant crystallization of repressed, yet, powerful feelings in the lyric: "Let me in through your open wounds" from "Weapons." Last Supper nod (?) in "Betray", or just misguided lover wanting to drink the cup that one knows is subjectively poisoned. A classically-trained artist weaving in some trippity-hop beats...works for me!!!

Easily my best album of 2008. Think trip-hop ish, with a bit of softer NIN mixed in. The album has a hook that resurfaces throughout the record which ties the sometime very different songs together to make a beautiful, interesting album to listen to.

As a music lover, and also as a Christian music fan, this CD is one of my favorite recent finds. Simply put, it's wonderful! Each song is a creative and artistic expression. I would imagine that listeners will experience his words and the music in very personal ways. The last two songs, "War" and "Epilogue" are two of the most emotional pieces of music I have ever heard. Prepare to be impressed. I look forward to hearing more from Ryan Lott.

The beats and accompaniment are pretty busy with lots of changes and different things going on. The vocals have this slow, repetitive lyric thing going. It's as though what is being sung/chanted is really important. Look up the lyrics for this album. If you like them, your chances of liking the album will be improved because you will be hearing them quite a bit.

I think the strongest track is "Wither." Things seem to blend more nicely here than on the rest of tracks where the vocals are more prominent and more difficult to ignore.

If the vocals weren't so lame and chanty I'd probably really like this album.

Vocals: 1
Everything else: 4.5

I stole that title from an iTunes reviewer of this album, because it's an appropriate one. Both a work of stunning complexity and approachable simplicity, there is simply nothing else like this out there right now.

This isn't a feel-good album, per say, in that it is weighty and full of raw emotion. Yet, there is something warm and familiar about it. The simple lyricism and melodic phrasing is a wonderful contrast to the often dense, shifting instrumental soundscapes. And though comprised of individual songs, the album feels more like a single, unfolding dramatic arc.

NPR called Son Lux "Best New Artist of 2008" and "Greatest Unknown Artist of 2008." Agreed!

Although this organic beatsmith has some good ideas, much of the emo-techno is blurred with mildly pretentious vocals and overly-produced arrangements.

Close call... I nearly bought this CD because I heard a good review on NPR. But then I read another reviewer saying it's christian music.

So I looked into it further, and sure enough, Son Lux uses scripture and bible verses throughout all of the songs. He repeats biblical verses over and over again, "like praying with Rosary beads" as one reviewer describes it. As a non-christian I would've been incredibly offended by this.

This CD is a borderline bait-and-switch, a christian trying to sneakily get some preaching in to people expecting an album similar to Radiohead. You have been warned!