In A World Full of Clouds
Talvienkeli
From their website, "this new album precisely revolves around the themes of change and evolution. The lyrics explore both the legacy of prehistoric and early humankind and the harrowing question of our society's future. Musically, the group uses both folk elements and modern polyrhythmic techniques mixed with the seven string guitars of contemporary metal." The album has seven songs.
"Listen" is the first. A drum into leads to the main riff and vocals. The music is intricate and somewhat complicated, while the vocals are smooth. But the melody remains very accessible. Maybe the most striking feature of the music is some of the odd chord progressions...they walk down a linear path and suddenly veer off. "Above the Clouds" runs through a gamut of positive, hopeful sounds, and ones where some grey and doubt begins to creep in. The music mirrors this in calculated steps. One thing that is evident is that the band marches to the beat of their own drum, and to no one else. I like the contrast of styles and the cadence changes...it keeps the listener engaged.
"Fight" is little angrier, as the title suggests. The sound is darker and more straightforward, with symphonic elements mixed into the rough edges and accents. Maïté's vocals are impassioned, and the music tracks with her swells and rises. The title track begins with drums and bass guitar that set up the vocals and main riff, and anger stays steady. It rides this wave for a spell, and then retreats, to clean, solemn tones with questions lingering. The anger returns with outbursts of vocals, some aggressive riffing, and meaty bass lines.
The next song is sung in native French. Charming, melodic guitars lead the song off, with alluring, melancholy vocals and audible bass guitar. The song begins to gently sway like the currents of the ocean, or a mid-summer day's breeze, and it forms a crescendo at the end. "Upon the Shore" begins with more tense tones, and the passing of black clouds on an otherwise sunny day. The bottom end of the song is aggressive, and the vocals are ominous. The song speaks of a stern warning. Vocalist Maïté has supreme control of her voice, as the vocals swell and subside. A beastly 23 minute song titled "Bulls" closes the album. At its core, it strikes of the message of man's struggle and hope. As with any epic song in Prog style, the amount of emotions it runs you through will leave you tired and breathless at the end. But, you need to save some strength in order to enact hope in your life.
The cloud on the cover is sharp, and ominous, much like the music of TALVIENKELI. At times, the mellow Progressive sound can act as a bowl of soup, warming you from the inside out, while other times, the heavier and more aggressive tones fuel your need to get up and face that which has been haunting you for too long. The music is very well crafted, and acts an emotional roller coaster that you desperately want to get off from and climb to safety.
8 / 10
Excellent
Songwriting
Musicianship
Memorability
Production
"In A World Full of Clouds" Track-listing:
1. Listen
2. Above the Clouds
3. Fight
4. In a World Full of Clouds
5. Héautontimorouménos
6. Upon the Shore
7. Bulls
Talvienkeli Lineup:
Maïté Merlin - Vocals
Laëtitia Bertrand - Bass
Pierre Besançon - Guitars
Thibault Chevalier - Guitars
Florent Dumortier - Drums
More results...