Monday, December 14, 2009

REVIEW: Syntaks - Ylajali

7.5 out of 10

Back in October 2009 Syntaks released their debut single for Ghostly Records (for free), the title was "Mistral Moon EP". It's a stunning piece in the ever expanding Dream Pop pie which brings to mind "a perfect conglomeration between Cocteau Twins and Seefeel". Dreamy, lush, and avant-garde would be the finest way to describe it's genius. Flash forward a few months later and Syntaks have finally unveiled their Ghostly debut full length "Ylajali", and yes, I can rest easier knowing I have finally had the opportunity to sit down and literally soak it in.

Jakob Scott (Syntaks) has been writing music for years now, there are already a few other Syntaks releases out there. One of them being the uber impressive collaboration between him and Manual (which is probably my favorite work of both artists involved), he also released a few other albums under other alias' like Limp. His music started out as an ambient approach towards IDM/Electronic sounds and as time progressed it became "ductile", and much more melancholic. It wasn't until 2006 though when he met Anna Cecilia and the dulcet hymns began oozing there way through the finely knitted electronics. "Ylajali" is a terrific first (official anyways) album for Syntaks. The atmospheres are will give you the sense of traveling through outer galaxies underneath a dark blue ocean. Relaxing can be tedious to some folks, but to "my fellow ears" that "get it" and just want more and more music like this, it is the reason for living. True emotion can be felt without words, true emotion is rich layers of sound and vision. Syntaks evokes emotion and intellect with an adumbrated voice, gorgeous/sodden guitar sounds, and meditative electronics.

If you're into early 4AD, Cocteau Twins, Seefeel, Manual, Grouper, lush and electronic ambient music you will no doubt adore Syntaks. "Ylajali" takes you back to a time when ambient music was still fresh and inviting like an enchanting neurosis sweeping you out to the comfort of a docile yet perplexed sea. RECOMMENDED.

Standout Tracks: Phantasmogoria, She Dreams In Colors, Blue Sunshine, Mistral Moon, The Shape Of Things To Come (my favorite track), Dark Night (also really good)

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