A release from Dan Roman comes as a set of three movements focused on violin, viola, and cello with each movement bringing in different temperaments, undertones, atmospheres, and intensities.
One of the more brilliant aspects about this release is the simple fact that those three movements are not only exactly the same time length which is 3:38, but they also each provide you with a different set of emotions.
The range of intensities that the pieces deliver are beautiful and the performances are robust and somewhat fierce at times with tracks coming through with haunting and cinematic backbones but also with a thriving vivaciousness that shines through a lot of the time.
The release is called DVXNS and it doesn't only consist of these three particular pieces but instead, contains the three original movements along with the same three pieces played in reverse.
With the pieces played in reverse you get a different vibe because the level of intensities are differentiated when played backwards so it comes through with I'd slightly different flow and this is something that makes this release incredibly unique.
The idea behind having the tracks playing reverse is a genius one and you can hear this infusion of cultured influences and approaches and classical works that are brought to the table even more so when they're playing reverse somehow.
Now, having said that, the final three tracks of this release are the pieces played on top of each other in both reverse and forward. Or as it says on the record, "Directo + Reverso".
This leaves nothing to the imagination as you have layers upon layers of gorgeous boat instrumentation that give off an energy level that you can't quite get away from.
Being able to have these pieces performed and composed so well is one thing but having the idea to not only have the same three tracks playing reverse to see how the feeling is but also having them playing reverse and forward on top of each other is amazing.
It makes one wonder if that was the idea from the first place or if that happened by way of an accident and it just felt right.
It certainly feels like it was Dan's idea from the get-go.
Or, perhaps it was the Cuarteto Latimoamericano witches The Ensemble performing the pieces that came up with the idea.
Either way it really works wonders in terms of being taken back from what you're hearing.
These tracks have a certain edginess to them. They're almost heavy in a way and I love that factor because it lets the boat instruments thrash and swell.
When the tracks are played in reverse you still get that same vibe but again, a little differently. But when they're played on top of each other and forward and reverse simultaneously, you have massive thrashing and the edginess factor goes into override.
Everything is super tight in terms of the performances and this is not a record where you only listen to the first three pieces. You listen to the entire thing. Nine tracks forward, reverse, and both simultaneously.
An amazing adventure in music and a spark of the imagination.
Check this record out and to me, if you listen to it loud, it provides the most intense levels of heaviness.
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