An unassuming cover, but perfectly in keeping with the name of this French one man project. Matthieu Ducheine, the man himself, apparently did a symphonic black metal album Obscura Symphonia twenty years ago and has filled in the years with a half dozen ‘dark electro ambient dub’ albums (Chrono.fixion) since. None of which helps with this other than the fact the guy is probably an accomplished musician.
Is he?
Oh yes indeed.
‘Pagan Immersion’ begins with simple, eloquent strings. A lovely, sedate violin bowed and plucked. There is a stillness to it, then the slow creeping of guitar as trees rustle and owl’s call. Then the riff. Somewhere between Rush and earlier Opeth it has a fluid grace to it. The layering of different sounds is intricate but not fussy, the death vocals deep and musical. The bass work is soft too, shining in the quiet sections. Delicious melodic notes spread through like dew on leaves. And the fantastic violin returns offering yet more life to a sylvan musical landscape.
‘Gaia At Night’ has a darker, more sombre tone. Again, the violin utilised as the riff buzzes in the background. It’s difficult to over emphasis the deft touch to the arrangements here; the bass rises as the violin fades, dancing gently as the guitar strums and then a Skepticism style riff and vocals descends. It is dark, intensely atmospheric, sliding slowly into the progressive death once more.
‘The Contemplators’ stays within the darkness and hits that Skepticism glide once more, waltzing with Opeth and Rush before plumbing a shadowy death metal vein.
This album blends so many styles, but it always flows between them, never suddenly. Often you only notice the shift as one layer is added and slowly becomes the dominant theme. The instruments used are always perfect for the role, whether it’s the mournful stroke of the violin, or the juddering pip of the saxophone and eerie sweep of keyboards; even the snippets of what I guess might be dub stylings which bring a little Arcturus style. Simply put the gent is a real musician. Sometimes as on the gorgeous ‘Vital Forces’ there is a sway to the music, a melodeath feel that Aephenemer would love, a lyrical melody with a curious driving bass and guitar that reminds me of The Sisters Of Mercy before the melodeath guitars sweep me away once more. At its most gentle it swims the same clear waters as prog like Lonely Robot, at its heaviest an angry face of Skepticism.
‘The Road That Leads To Nowhere’ is all this. Prog guitar picking with a nagging, sinister background rumble that gradually takes over. And then album closer ‘Funeral Desert Of Doom’ adds desert rock to the whole, mixes it with funeral doom and…shit it works. Outstanding song.
Contemplation is really remarkable for a one-man project. Or for a band. An instinctive feel for how different styles can work beautifully together, a desire to simply try things and a touch for layering and mixing that just adds so much depth.
Symphonic prog melodic death desert doom anyone? Ah its progressive music in the best sense; intelligent, articulate, atmospheric and moving. Seriously, if you like any of the bands I mentioned, or just prog death, Contemplation should be your next stop.
Exemplary
(9/10 Gizmo)
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