Yes, this Carl Sagan inspired album opens when there is little entropy in the universe. The music starts out slowly in Star of Light as our protagonist describes the end of the total darkness with the music building slowly to a small crescendo. The next segment leads to visions of chaos and uncertainty thanks to swirling samples, panting, and staccato keyboard playing. Flash to modern day where we are reminded that no matter what you do or who you think you are, “You will all die alone one day.” As we enter into the into the Retrograde chapter portion of the song, Valarie and Phideaux’s lyrics intertwine in a way that make you think that they are foreshadowing the upcoming Helix track. Gabriel Moffat follows for a short but sexy guitar solo which segues into a calm piano lead portion of the song that evokes the spirit Peter Banks. The Celestine instrumental that ends the first piece has a serious tone to it as the piano is back playing as ominously as ever intertwining with Ariel Farber’s fine violin work. The tenacity of the rest of the song is as brittle as the mineral it was named after.
Helix showcases Valerie’s emotional singing prowess, the guitar parts are as sexy as they were in previous tracks. The subject matter of a godless universe continues here and Phideaux shows how he is a thought-provoking
lyricist. “Every god is a letdown All heroes are false So there ends the lesson It’s a hell of a course”
Blowtorch Snowjob is another instrumental which maybe does not add much to album for me but the name as it is another example of Phideaux’s famous word plays such as Microdeath Softstar.
Phideaux continues his interesting prose on Fox Rock 2 with “How can you halt the assault of ideas from the box when Pandora destroyed the lock?” Valerie continues to sing here heart out for this song as the swirling images keep coming
but this time from an almost carnival sounding synthesizer.
Coronal Mass Ejection, which is potentially pictured on the album cover, features Phideaux himself
singing. The lyrics are right justified on the cover which is apropos because If there is such a thing as
right justified lyrics it is here. The lyrics seem to end consistently but start abruptly at a different part of each measure.
Snowtorch is an album that is more accessible than Number Seven but not simplistic either. Unlike Number 7, the album has a pretty cohesive storyline. This highly anticipated album, I am pleased to report, does not disappoint. Phideaux and his band are clicking on all 10 cylinders. µµµµ