VIXIT

Post Rock/Math Rock is not normally a genre that I'm super incredibly familiar with and is a bit "outside of the wheelhouse" in regards to my own playing and writing.

But from my first exposure to Return/Mr. Abject, I've been in absolute awe of this project. The phenomenal level of craftsmanship evidenced on all their releases is certainly impressive. To me, there are some certain touchpoints to some of the more ambient portions of David Sylvian's music, but Battlestations most certainly have their own thing going on here...

As an aside, there are moments that I'm thoroughly convinced that this is some mystery project from Kevin Moore and Jim Matheos, and then I'm equally, absolutely convinced that it's not... (TNK: Tomorrow Never Knows) [If this turns out to be Steven Wilson, won't I be embarrassed?!?!?]

VIXIT:

This is indescribably beautiful, almost unearthly music. Layer upon layer of ideas executed flawlessly, engineered and produced magnificently. The playing and writing, the music theory formulas of the melodic/harmonic sections and the chord structures, specifically with regard to their movement(s) both complementary and contrapuntal are exceptional.

And that CHOIR!!! Whether these are synthetic or real voices (or some combination thereof), the choral portions of this release are so well written, constructed and performed, so movingly beautiful, and startlingly original. I've never heard anything quite like it. (And as with fellow PA reviewer Mellotron Storm, I also hear "Holy, Holy, Holy" repeated throughout the choral sections).

With Battlestations, (to my ears) there always seems to be an undercurrent of menace running throughout their compositions, sometimes overt, other times so incredibly subtle. And this remains true on Vixit. However, to me this is a positive thing as it keeps me engaged with what I'm hearing.

For some, this would be nothing more than background music, and it's okay if you hear it like that. But I've found whether through speakers or headphones, Battlestations will keep you very interested if you give the music the chance to unfold at its own pace, and allow yourself to become a part of it by your listening (somewhat akin to a variation of the Observer Effect: In physics, the observer effect is the theory that simply observing a situation or phenomenon necessarily changes that phenomenon).

I really am impressed with and genuinely love this. So wonderfully interesting and unique.

For its sheer originality and ingenuity in its writing, performance, engineering & production, Vixit is a 5 star release.

As always, your actual mileage may vary.

Grace and peace, Cylli (Jim)

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