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Band: Syndrome
Album title: Forever And A Day
Release date: 16 September 2016
Label: Consouling Sounds
Tracklist:
01. Forever And A Day
Forever And A Day is the follow up album to 2012's acclaimed work, Now And Forever by Mathieu Vandekerckhove (also in Amenra, Kingdom and Sembler Deah) and his project Syndrome. The album features one seamless track that comes in several sections or movements that convey different aspects of the one journey. This journey is a continuation from the last release but now from a new perspective of a dialogue from 'son to father' rather than 'father to son'. This work marks a point within evolution and a coming of age both musically and personally.
The album artwork is an image of a bronze statue sculpted by Mathieu's father that has resonated with Vandekerckhove throughout his life and musical progression; an image that perfectly depicts the themes in the music of a force being hidden within a body that knows no freedom... only absence, sorrow and the void.
The album begins with both feet firmly planted on the ground; a simple tribal beat and a sense of things to come. Then begings the slow evolution of space and complexity with simplistic clean guitar loops that gradually morph and build into more solid rhythms and soundscapes. The listener is almost being lulled to sleep with the basic mantras of drums and guitar then it is clear that one is beginning to leave the ground and the earth behind. Large drone sounds creep into the mix as the listener is being lifted further into space; the earth is now fast becoming a thing of the past as one ventures head-long into limitless space. Now passing Jupiter, speeding up and preparing to leave the galaxy; it seems there is no way to make it back to earth. Complete isolation in space; or is it isolation in the mind? Either way one has clearly travelled far from the origin with no destination in sight.
The second movement begins floating in dark space, a sense that you are in a very different place; a new mood and a new atmosphere. Returning to simplistic riffs and the beginning of a new evolution, travelling further into space. The music combines styles found in ambient and post-rock music to create a sense of movement and change. Moving from the simple to the complex, the raw to the ethereal, the familiar to the unknown.
The album then continues into deep space and a very light ambience. Floating past whole galaxies and going nowhere in a hurry. Then amongst the placid fog of the outer reaches of the universe a slow build begins. Again a simple guitar loop emerges from the depths and the journey is set to be pushed further, this time to reach the destination... oblivion. Drone sounds begin to swarm and a harsh ambience builds ever stronger as the listener is carried out to the edge of the very universe itself, to the edge of time space and the door to the infinite. Further, further and then...
This album is a little monotonous at times, but it has a tendency to creep up on you and before you know it you are surrounded by walls of sound and introspective images of the infinite. Quite a voyage in which it is definitely about the journey and not the destination. I heard the album as a spiritual journey through space, but it could be just as easily interpreted as a spacial journey through the spirit. A bit of a Russian dolls thing going on... everything is a matter of perspective.
Review written by: Evceles
Rating: 7,5/10
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