REIFICATION

Syrinx is a side project of mainly guys from NIL: David Maurin on acoustic guitar, Benjamin Croizy on keyboards and Samuel Maurin on bass accomplished with Philippe Maullet on drums. The alliance took place already at 1999 when they decided to create music of new form. At first they remained anonymous: ''They work together to attain a common goal which bears the name of Syrinx: thus, the name and career of each musician are unimportant'' and they named the band as Syrinx: ''Syrinx normally designs a nymph from Greek mythology. This concept does not belong exclusively to this mythology. It not only existed before it, but it exists to this very day. Syrinx, then, is the origin of this music.'' According to the band, the form of their music is Metamorphic Music fulfilling three conditions:

1) It is constructed on rhythmical and melodic themes which develop, change, and metamorphose in a subtle way into other themes. Depending on the effects intended, this process is more or less perceived by the listener. If this metamorphic construction is elaborated correctly, it can lead to the two following consequences:

2) It induces a special interior state in the listener. In fact, all music influences our movements, our emotions and our will-power, whether we are conscious of this or not. Syrinx' music is precisely conceived in this sense to operate an internal transmutation, an interior metamorphosis of the listener.

3) In the place where it is played, it creates a sort of climate: it contains in itself all that is necessary to be able to catch on progressively in the physical area where it is propagated. After the music has stopped, it still impregnates the area. A sensitive person can feel this phenomenon, even if he or she were not present at the time of its diffusion.

As far their only album of this form, ''Reification'', got published four years after the formation. Like said in conditions, the music of Syrinx is an ever changing flow that's easy to float with, but that's in a complex and dangerous way: there's a whirlpool behind the calm waters once you get into - there's no coming back! Now, think of a football team, where 's no leading player but everyone plays as a part of team, to one destination: goal. Nobody keeps the ball for himself a long but the interplay is fast with all twists and turns. Syrinx is just like a perfect and very disciplined football team. The absent of electric guitar is the most notable and 'commanding' element here, it leaves the doors wide open for the rest of the instruments here: All are as much in leading and in accompanying role, which are constantly changing like a played ball.

The flow of music is kind of slow and minimal in a way (not rhytmically or thematically), but that's only an illusion actually again for the missing leading instrument. So, all the souds and notes are well considered thus getting an extra weight on them. Every sound, every note, every pick of bass and every beat of drum is MEANINGFUL. And for this reason the listening of 'Reification' is quite an exhausting experience: it forcefully takes your full attention and doesn't leave a listener any chance to take a breath. After listening to this record I feel like after an hour of jogging or something (I have actually once listened this four times consecutively... it makes you demanding for more of it! I think I'm in quite good physical shape now, thanks for Syrinx :)

Now, imagine four random and different frequency sinusoid or cosine like curvatures that goes on... they're the players lines here. So at least one of them is always at the peak granting a wow-effect and keeping the attention while the lines below are sneakily chancing and rising a moment after into another wow. At times there comes a moments when all the curvatures are simultaneously at the peak, and that's a WOW!

Of the players I have to say that they're all absolutely stunning with all the fretless bass playing, imaginary drum patterns, wonderful guitar picking, extraordinary keyboard playing and superb compositions. Syrinx cannot be compared to any other band, any other music ever before, it's above them all. Only NIL's Quarante Jours Sur Le Sinai grants some similar moments as far as I know.

Of the songs Syrinx lighten us:

1. Reification: reify signifies to give reality to a concept. It renders palpable that which is evanescent; then essence becomes substance. This first piece gives its title to the album and characterizes the musical direction of Syrinx as well as posing the base of the metamorphic structure of the music.

2. Emanescence: an emanescence is a living contact, impalpable and ephemeral. It is a sort of soft touch, a fugacious imprint of a moment of grace. Everyone has an experience of this kind during their lives, and interpret it in an artistic, psychological, rational or mystical way...

3. The twentieth circle: this refers to the hierarchical structure of the universe that numerous traditions materialize as circles or concentric spheres. Syrinx was part of the twentieth circle (or level, plane, dimension).

4. Orbis Ubique: this is a Latin expression designing that which is spherical (orb) and that which can be found everywhere (ubiquity). That corresponds equally to the musical structure of the piece and to the nature of Syrinx.

5. The Hypostasis of the Archons: Archons is the term utilized by the Gnostics to design what the theologians called Powers, that is to say the divine emanations located two levels under the Archangels. The Hypostasis constitutes a change of state which occurred among the Archons at the beginning of our era, and which benefited indirectly to Syrinx. The Hypostasis of the Archons is also the title of one of the 52 texts found in Egypt. This archaeological discovery is considered by some as being the most important one since that of the Red Sea Manuscripts.

That just have to do with the songs because I couldn't describe these pieces musically: They're the ever changing flow, hard to separate into any parts and they change with your own feelings and mental conditions showing themself a different side from listening to listening. At first, Syrinx may sound a bit dull, again for the missing solos and vocals for example, but as you keep listening to this masterwork, you begin to realise the small details and to comprehend the unnatural flow and changes of the music. Soon you'll find this album as a prog-grug that you gonna have to get your regular dose.

Hope somebody cared to read all this nonsense of mine, but anyhow: this album is extremely recommended and it's definitely the best insrumental album I've ever heard! Now, there's a brand new album to be expected from them at any day now and I'm very exited!

Reference: Syrinx homepage