Monolyth & Cobalt – Rives (Review)
Posted In: Kesh, Mathias Vaneecloo, Monolyth & Cobalt, Rives
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Mathias Vaneecloo is a versatile creator who encompasses music, photography and art. Monolyth & Cobalt is his musical project and thanks to Simons Scott’s rather awesome KESH record label we are presented with the album “Rives,” a compilation of two previously self-released cdr’s.
This album in many ways personifies its creator with varying textures applied across the album’s 12 tracks. Opening with the ominous yet dreamy “Harmonium Melodies” and the haunting echoes of “The Sleepy Snow,” lucid sounds on “Road (movie)” and “June and June” bring the listener into an attentive state.
“Road (movie)” reminds me of those early days of spring, when the sun is higher in the sky. The warm, scattering of digital sounds provoke images of a bright light shimmering through the gaps of a venetian blind. “June and June” continues this theme recalling the sounds of Taylor Deupree and Christopher Willits.
Mathias achieves this contrasting sound through his exploitation of multiple acoustic instruments. “Rives” sees him play with the Harmonium, Piano, a variety of strings, melodica and he also records some vocal effects. Combining these natural sounds with a range of electronic techniques allows the album to tick many genre boxes spanning the drone and ambient sounds synonymous with other KESH recordings but also expanding to more unusual fusions as heard on tracks like “Whatever You Think Will Die” and “Three Walks.”
In conclusion this is a record that’s full of detailed, strong recordings. It is one that likes to surprise its audience such is the ever fluctuating nature of music on display here. Embodying the versatility of its architect, “Rives” is the product of a talented artist who likes to adapt to different mediums and is one to watch out for going forward. – Review by Josh Atkin
About the release:
Kesh are very pleased to release ‘Rives’, a compilation from the first two Monolyth & Cobalt self-released cdr’s. Recorded between 2007 &; 2009 Monolyth &; Cobalt is a music project from Mathias Vaneecloo, a french musician, photographer, plastic artist and performer born in 1977.
Mathias works with many acoustic instruments like Harmonium, Piano, Various Strings, melodica and some human sound such as breath on tape. He also uses modern technology inclusing samplers, sequencer & effects processors but his cinematic soundscapes never lose their organic feel and human emotion.
All of his music works are released like some book chapters, and the allbum is like a book or like a soundtrack for imaginary landscapes bringing to mind the film work of Tarkovski, David Lynch, Kubrik and Hitchcock.
His music oscillates between electro-acoustic, electronica, drone, ambient, minimalist or shoegaze. Comparisons are Deaf Centre, Slowdive, Biosphere and 12k’s Taylor deupree’s warmer moments although dig a little deeper and Debussy, Pierre Henry and John Cage can be heard as strong influences.
There are no borders to focus his feelings in sounds, he works in this way that escapes any musical limitations which crosses musical genres and evokes images of the past and the future combined with his compositions.
Stand out tracks include the ghostly echos of “The Sleeping Snow”, eerie opener “Harmonium melodies” and the warm digital tones of “June and june”.
The Sleeping Snow
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Track List:
1.Harmonium Melodies
2.The Sleeping Snow
3.Road (movie)
4.Stormy Weather
5.Domaine Non-Identifie
6.JUNE AND JUNE
7.Whatever you think you will die
8.Rivages
9.Three Walks
10.Silence
11.Religious Lights
12.Guerre Friode
Release date 01.03.10
For more information contact KESH: sscochaa@ntlworld.com
Highly recommended great stuff, plus mathias is a very patient and hard working individual producing not only this but his own solo, and the clyde parker projects.
[...] This review originally featured on Fluid Radio [...]
[...] Monolyth & Cobalt is the solo music project from Mathias Vaneecloo, a French musician living in Paris. He is also a photographer, plastic artist and performer born in 1977. All of his musical works are released like the chapters of a book; soundtracks for imaginary landscapes. His music oscillates between electro-acoustic, electronica, drone, ambient, minimalist and shoegaze. His first album has been released on Kesh Recordings. [...]