Casia – Feuer Wasser Sturm (Album – Wrotycz Records / Symmetric Poetry)
Genre/Influences: Cinematographic, dark-ambient, experimental.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: Casia is a project driven by Stephan Spreer (known from Lovespell, Sunday Strain, Antlers Mulm). “Feuer Wasser Sturm” is the debut album of the artist, released on CD by Wrotycz Records while the digital format is available by Symmetric Poetry.
Content: We’re visiting a rather abstract, cinematographic and ambient-like sound universe. You’ll rapidly notice the tracks have been composed with synthesizers, but Casia also uses samples and field recordings. The composition moves from crispy noises to astral sweeps to deep, vibrating sound treatments. You now get the sensation of pure reverie while other cuts reflect a darker ambient approach.
+ + + : What I like in this work is the unique approach; it’s ambient and even dark-ambient driven, but different than the ‘classic’ formats. Casia stands for a more delicate and sometimes even subtle work. The musician creates an intimate world, like the mirror of his inner world. So the work has something pretty visual, which makes me think of putting your head into a dark and unknown hole. You feel the danger, but can’t resist the temptation… I was impressed by tracks like “I Step Outside Myself” for its intimate feeling and “Transit” for its dark-ambient vibrations.
– – – : This work needs a visual content and that’s in a way what the artwork of the cover stands for, but I can imagine a deeper impact when joined with real visuals, a short film or even a theatre play. I’m missing a true climax to speak about a totally accomplished work.
Conclusion: This album is a nice surprise for (dark)-ambient lovers in search of something different and even a tiny atypical.
Best songs: “Transit”, “I Step Outside Myself”, “A New Forgetting (And A New Forgiveness)”, “The Bridge To You (And Back To Me)”.
Rate: (7).
Label: www.wrotycz.com / www.facebook.com/wrotycz.rec
About Casia
Casia is the project of German musician Stephan Spreer, previously involved with Llovespell (active in the 2000s), Sunday Strain and Antlers Mulm. “Feuer Wasser Sturm” is his debut album under the Casia name, released on Wrotycz Records and mastered by Andreas Wahnmann.
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