Cyanbaal - Living Tunnel Revision / The Inscrutable Script

 The first time I heard Cyanbaal was a few years back on the Dark Reflections album. It was there that Cyanbaal channeled the fauna, the flora and the supernatural in a very unconventional way. It was a refreshing approach that did not follow any specific genre rules or boundaries. It was delightfully strange at times and it was often confusing to describe to others but it was beautiful in the way the artists shaped their vision into the album. Not surprising, the duo of Patrick and Haether somehow create yet another release while being separated by an ocean. They continue to harness the uncanny with opulent soundscapes that flourish with intricate designs to pierce the veils of banality and breach the seldom travelled roads. 

Living Tunnel Revision / The Inscrutable Script is a fittingly long title for and immense reworked album and new EP consisting of fifteen songs that stray into dimly lit leaf covered crossroads fit for those with a sense of wonder and a voracious appetite for new experiences. Patrick and Haether deliver just that, a healthy dose of moments that would scare the ectoplasm out of a spectral being ("Witching Hour") and other times having you join that spectral party ("Chinese Subway" & "Dancing Idiots").  Initially, there is no concrete path to bridge one track to the next. It seems predictably unpredictable for lack of a better phrase. At times the tempo is slow with layers of complexity in sound design that yield a very cold and dark vibe, yet other times the tempo is uplifting enough get the blood pumping again. 

With that being said, I find listening to this as a whole perfects its appeal. It's hard to select a specific track to isolate as the one track that really stands out. I prefer to immerse myself into the whole. After playing the release in its entirety several times there is an intangible that links the tracks together. Perhaps it naturally manifests or perhaps that was by design? 

Both artists share in the creation of their stories set to music with a highly diverse approach. Sometimes Patrick's voice sounds extremely malevolent ("Witching Hour") with the monotone approach and other times displays a more melodic path ("Schizophrenia").  Haether's voice hits its pinnacle with the enchanting melodies of "Dancing Idiots" and with The Klinik influenced  "Chinese Subway". From the music to the vocals to the overall track, Cyanbaal finds ways to tap into the sensory highways that stimulate a fresh delivery that goes against the grain and reminds us all that we are unique and should express ourselves our way. Do your own thing and that's exactly what Cyanbaal continues to do!

Living Tunnel Revision / The Inscrutable Script is a true statement to the spirit of expression. Cyanbaal could easily make some tweaks to their sound to make it more accessible with more points of reference to stir up even more intrigue in the project, but that just would not be Cyanbaal's way. Throw caution to the wind and wander away into the realms of Cyanbaal.

Click -->Dark Reflections review to find out more about Cyanbaal.






Nov 12 2023