At War With Walls & Mazes

Son Lux | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 11, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Anticon
• ASIN: B00127ISDG
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #64,475 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING!!!- this is why I still buy CD's, March 17, 2008

By 

B. A. Herndon (texas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: At War With Walls & Mazes (Audio CD)

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!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Postmodern SoundScape, January 15, 2009

By 

Niklas P. Andersson (Santa Cruz, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: At War With Walls & Mazes (Audio CD)

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.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Melodic, Poetic and Addictive, May 30, 2008

By 

David Ross "Cook, Chemist, Nurse" (Rochester, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: At War With Walls & Mazes (Audio CD)

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.