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Cloudland Canyon, "Silver Tongued Sisyphus"
The latest release from Kip Uhlhorn and Simon Wojan's Cloudland Canyon is far too brief which means that each precious moment on this CD is cherished more than ever. The two pieces on this EP are astounding; both are slowly evolving epics with a heavy hint of Krautrock under a very modern sheen. The end result can only be described as cosmic.
"Dambala" starts as a heady landscape, all rough edges and dark patches. As it progresses it gives way to a perfect synth rhythm, different loops all going in and out of the mix, locking and unlocking the music. The shifting and pulsating nature of the song makes it feel alive. It is like a giant superorganism: each component of the song being drones (in the insect sense, not the La Monte Young sense) working singularly for the good of the music.
The title track is similarly multifaceted, starting off seamlessly where the sedate "Dambala" leaves off. However, there is a startling change of pace as the drums kick in with a powerful rhythm with a strong bass foundation. The guitar conjures up an ether around this iron backbone. The icing on the cake are the vocals which are in German so I have not a clue what they mean but they sound the business. On "Silver Tongued Sisyphus" there is a thrilling energy that propels the music onward and upward, like a rocket powering up to leave earth and go hurtling through the solar system (and we are all lucky passengers).
Silver Tongued Sisyphus is an absolute stonker of an EP that should be blasted from every available audio speaker. The sound samples below may not give a full impression of the pieces as it is the repetition and shifts in tone and timing that make the music so intense. However, I readily admit that this release has truly whetted my appetite for the duo's next album. With any luck their forthcoming album will pick up where this EP leaves off and Cloudland Canyon can move together beyond the reaches of our galaxy.
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