Crystal Cage – 4EPs Boxset (Album – Anywave)
Genre/Influences: Electro-ambient, cinematographic.
Format: Digital, 2 Cassettes.
Background/Info: Crystal Cage is a Finish based project active since 2017. This “4EPs Boxset” brings 4 EP’s together, which were originally released between 2018 and Summer 2019. The work has been released on two cassettes featuring one EP on each side. We get a total of twenty two songs.
Content: Most EP‘s are entitled in Dutch (cf. “Voor Altijd Nacht”, “Zielslicht”, “Romantiek Aan Het Einde Van De Wereld” and “Deimos/Daedalia”). The songs are characterized by impressive, ambient electro layers creating a mysterious, haunting atmosphere. The work is definitely soundtrack driven and sometimes reminds me of the atmosphere of the legendary “Twin Peaks”-series. Some tracks feature female vocals, which have been produced as a kind of effect on top of the music. The last EP “Deimos/Daedalia” features guest vocals by metal singer Somniare. This EP sounds a bit different because of the growling vocals, which has something cavernous.
+ + + : Globally speaking this album is characterized and dominated by overwhelming sound atmospheres. It’s the kind of element that gets you in constant alert from start to finish. It also has a strong visual appeal, creating a paranoiac sensation. Crystal Cage deals with a unique sound, which is for sure related to soundtrack/cinematographic music, but there’s more than this. The vocals and effects accentuate the doomy side of the work. It however remains a dreamy trip although a real special one, which rapidly can turn into an imaginary nightmare.
– – – : It’s maybe because the album features so many tracks, but the sound formula created by Crystal Cage becomes rapidly repetitive and predictable. I think this work can serve as a basis for more elaboration.
Conclusion: This album is something special, not exactly the kind of work setting the world of ambient music alight, but there’s some potential hiding in Crystal Cage.
Best songs: “Aisha’s Soul In Decay”, “Phosphorus Betrayed”, “Regen”, “Regenval”.
Rate: (7).
Label: http://anywaverecords.com /
About Crystal Cage
Crystal Cage is a Finnish electro-ambient project active since 2017, also known under the alias Kuollut. The “4EPs Boxset” gathers four earlier EPs, “Voor Altijd Nacht”, “Zielslicht”, “Romantiek Aan Het Einde Van De Wereld” and “Deimos/Daedalia”, released between 2018 and 2019, onto two cassettes. Crystal Cage went on to collaborate with vocalist Somniare on “Accursed Acolyte Evermore Casting” in 2020 and “Valkyrian Dawn” in 2021, before returning with the “Infinite & Unknown” LP on Poisonous Sorcery in 2024.
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