CARBON-BASED ANATOMY

It's Sean Malone who really made me look an eye on the development of Cynic because I like his bass playing in Gordian Knot. This EP album which spans less than half an-hour duration is an excellent music composition that blew me away since the first time I spun it. First off, I always like the atmospheric style of their music. This time Cynic uses a female vocal with a non- English language in the opening track Amidst The Coals (2:11) that makes the atmosphere really great as an opening. It takes smoothly to another vocal-based track of the EP title Carbon-Based Anatomy (6:24) where the bass guitar work serves as rhythmic mode in the vein of Dream Theater's Never Enough (Octavarium). The guitar solo is also stunning. The next short track that serves as a bridge Bija! (2:27) is a wonderful Ravi Shankar's style with sitar as well as tabla and atmospheric voices. It then moves wonderfully to Box Up My Bones (5:33). I can find many musical breaks demonstrating guitar fills and stunning solo in the middle of the track. I like the way vocal part sings and also how the drum is played. Well, it's hard for me to find any musical reference these gentlemen use because the music is really unique and so captivating from start to end.

Looking at the EP ini broader perspective, this category of music is similar with their previous EP Traced in Air. The composition is actually not really a song orientated style however I can find the beauty of each individual song offered here with this EP. I'd rather look at this album as one whole EP that sounds like a mini concept album as the musical flow is really great. The harmonies created from the instruments and vocal are also great. Even though the music is actually not complex but it's not a simple music neither. For sure the whole EP sounds like a cohesive whole - that means this EP has strong structural integrity.

Overall, it's an excellent addition to any prog music collection. Keep on proggin' ...!!!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW