Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
CS On The Cutting Edge, January 22, 2006
The "Penumbra Diffuse" is an awesome piece of work. I didn't see how they were going to match "Sublimation" - which totally had me hypnotized and wanting more. The new CD focuses even more on experimentation, but in the best possible way, keeping things interesting throughout the entire CD. I recommend this CD to fans of Porcupine Tree, King Crimson, Fates Warning, Dream Theatre, etc. or anyone interested in progressive music that often breaks new ground. But remember this is an all instumental CD. No vocals. At times reminiscent of a modern day Brand X.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Astounding instrumental prog, January 30, 2006
I have no idea how Canvas Solaris' new album Penumbra Diffuse will sit with the band's fans of the earlier album and EP, as the band has embraced a quite different songwriting approach this time. No worries though, this is still the same band who released Spatial/Design and Sublimation, and the uber-technical riffs and intricate arrangements are still certainly widely available on this disc. However, Penumbra Diffuse has a more expansive sound, with the addition of a good dose of keyboards and dense guitar harmonies. Not all the songs are as heavy as they get here, the band has toned down their single-minded, heavy-for-the-sake-of-being-heavy attitude. The songs are infused with creative energy and a plethora of atmospheric passages laced with engaging synth sequences.
Driven by guitarists Nathan Sapp and Ben Simpkins (who also handles the bass), and amazing drummer Hunter Ginn, the songs on Penumbra Diffuse are a lot more atmospheric and midtempo. Contrary to their previous efforts, the band is unafraid to write and perform all acoustic tracks or pieces completely captured by Tangerine Dream-like synthesizers. "Panormaic Long-Range Vertigo" is a short cut that opens the album with the classic Canvas Solaris type of fretwork we've come to expect from them. As the song proceeds though, Micro Moog synthesizers and Ginn's unusual combination of conga and djembe rhythms turn the piece into a rather slowed-down number that segues into the lengthy "Horizontal Radiant". Over 11 minutes, the song is essentially formulated by semi-electronic keyboard samples that statitacally throb through the whole piece. Placed on these sampled sounds are gentle 12- and 6-string acoustic guitars that are occasionally replaced with hammering electric rhythms before they calm down and give way to tribal conga and shaker sounds. The guitars are almost hypnotic, particularly when Sapp and Simpkins decide it's time to duel over a random bass pattern. Similarly, on "Luminescence", another 12-minute track, the band dabbles with frantic electric piano, repeated guitar chords that build on until a fiercely melodic section develops out of the experiment. Unlike the Spatial/Design EP, the death metal elements in the duo's riffage is completely gone. Even Ginn refrains from fast, double-bass drumming, save for "Accidents in Mutual Silence", which is grindingly heavy and allows zero moments for acoustic or atmospheric passages.
The other songs are equally impressive, if not more. I'm a big fan of Canvas Solaris' intricate soloing and heavy tendencies, but to see they are also capable of writing other stuff is amazing. "Vaihayasa", for example, is an all-acoustic song beginning with a nice classical intro. Ben Simpkins also plays some mandolin here while Sapp's guitar synthesizers create an almost psychedelic landscape. The song becomes twice as experimental when Ginn introduces his unique tabla, Moroccan clay drums, tambourine, and other percussive rhythm work. Despite being acoustic, this is perhaps the most brooding song on the album, and I'll give the guys extra props for being able to capture that vibe without relying on cliche keyboards like some other bands. The band's most daring song, perhaps even their most avant garde work, "Psychotropic Resonance", is a mix of a multitude dissonant chords married with dark ambient sections. Eerie synths and atonal guitar rhythms join to generate extra texture and eventually spiral into searing twin guitar leads with segments of cold acoustics underneath them.
I love all Canvas Solaris releases, and even though this one will take many spins to fully absorb, I feel Penumbra Diffuse might be their best work yet. Now they aren't just a band with extraordinarily talented musicians, but they also understand atmosphere and composition. Signing to Sensory was a very clever move on their part too. Also, considering they dedicated this album to the memory of Denis D'Amour, I think the Voivod man would be proud if he heard this album.
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Tracklisting- Panoramic Long-Range Vertigo . Horizontal Radiant . Accidents in Mutual Silence . Vaihayasa . To Fracture . Psychotropic Resonance . Luminescence .
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing and refreshing!!!!!, March 28, 2006
What an exciting moment in music era we are right now!!! I am a big fan of everything that is progressive music, experimental, avant-guarde... etc... My best stuff are Soft Machine, Matching Mole, King Crimson, experimental Jazz... even avant-guarde classical music. You got the picture! So, lately, I felt like exploring tech-metal... mostly a la Voivod. That brought me back to the marvellous band called Cynic. Then Spiral Architect. I love every minutes of those albums. Now add tech-death metal to my exciting list. But I must say, the most exciting of all, is the new Canvas Solaris CD... And I am just thrilled by what I heard. After decades of only a few musicians devoted to break new grounds... It really felt refreshing that a bunch of new, young musicians (put Dysrhythmia in the lot too) are really aiming at breaking new grounds. And that is exciting.
Canvas Solaris' last effort is just mind blowing... all genre confounded. I mean, they do everything, extremely well! They are talented... and it shows!!! Some passages with 12 and 6 string guitars are just fantastic and classically precise. The drums are so varied... I get lost in all the percussions and how tight it all sound. The thing is, they not only do different styles.. like... to do styles.. no, they mix them... They mix everything from experimental jazz with nicely prog passage with nice aggresive metal riffs and... and a little something that is their own... A personal touch that makes Canvas Solaris what they really are. Unique!!! The result is a trip to the unknown, and the dissonance, the delicacy, the space, the heaviness... real experimentation. All that mixes so well, that few bands today have reached such a new sound, such a quality.
Of course, away from all conventions, they might take a few listen to understand... which is much better for me, since there are new stuff to discover in every listen! That is REAL music!!! That's what music is all about!!! Plus no singer!!! I love that. Only intrumentals... Which remembers me of the best instrumental moments of Soft Machine, Mahavishnu, King Crimson, etc. Even Miles...
Definitly, a defining moment in fusion sound of today, where new, young talented musicians are not afraid to break the rules and create new sounds. A hommage to Dennis D'Amour INDEED!!!!!!
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