Zombi - Spirit Animal

March 21, 2009

Reviewer: Ilmarinen

An idea of a spirit animal is equally intriguing whether it comes from American Indians, an eastern European shamanism, or even China. It sires an empathic link between a human and a non-human, a conversation through mood sharing if you will. The concept is no less fascinating when it is metabolized through music. And so comes along this latest offering from Zombi, Spirit Animal, a deliberate study of moods conveyed entirely without words. This album is an unhurried impressionistic portrait of feelings rather than thoughts. There is danger here because it operates, or at least attempts to operate, on such a primal pre-cognitive level the results are inevitably polarizing. When it works it clicks immediately, but when it fails, the impact is emotionally tasking. The style is instrumental darkwave, which is, as is the case with any instrumental undertaking, naturally well suited to convey shifting passions over more concrete verbal lyricism.

“Spirit Animal”, the title track, is a near effervescent glacial gateway chapter with a distinct Larghetto feel to it. The synth is slow, unhurried. Initially the sound has a soaring organ quality, a thick foreboding wall of sound. After establishing its presence it mutates into a fragile ballet of rain-drops falling on the ground, an interchange of higher notes and lower bass accents. Towards the end it soars again with a sparse but effective addition of trumpet effects, to, no doubt, add a texture of majesty to the outro. The Spirit Animal is on its way. As a whole it begs a comparison to Glass Hammer's moog openers.

"Spirit Warrior” picks up the tempo. Things are more manic here. Its dogged repetition that grows in intensity almost reminds one of Bolero. Drums are a lot more pronounced on this track as they establish a jazzy whirly-wind pace vaguely reminiscent of Mahavishnu Orchestra. Three minutes into the track the speed dissolves into light percussive effects further complemented by bass. The drums take a backseat here but persist in a Tool-like fashion, undeniably distinct but lower in the mix. The story of the Spirit Warrior begins to unfold with a return to Bolero-like repetition of percussive notes using an organ effect as a backdrop that thickens, thins out, and thickens again as it underlines various mood changes of the story. Who or what is this warrior is assuredly portrayed here, but it is not exactly clear. This is perhaps the desired effect; a testament to its mercurial nature. The track ends with a drum piece that once it reaches its crescendo fades into a lighter roll. The journey is over. The warrior has come.

“Earthly Powers” is the most diverse of the bunch so far and carries a distinct feel of a Jordan Rudess influence. There is a nice interlude with a sluggish bass against the lighter keys and airy drums. The feel of the song is more urgent, a summoning of something great and powerful and possibly dangerous. At around 2:50 into the track the tempo changes, slows, and grows deeper, sludgier. Something has arrived. Keys pick up again, perhaps indicating an exchange, a dialogue of some sort between a simpler and a more complicated being. The mood here is somber but persistently driving forward. Then, possibly, when a communion is reached, it relaxes again as provided by lighter keyboard tones. Suddenly it grows serious, bass-y in delivery, quite likely as a final admonishment before rising to exuberance yet again. Something important happened here but it was resolved in a positive fashion. A thing was asked and something was given in return, and there is a triumphant butterfly-like synth dance to attest to that notion.

“Cosmic Powers” is an upbeat keyboard romp that is virtually unchanging with subtle variations in the background mainly delivered by layers of short moog passages and an occasional  percussive  sounding  effect  overlaying the drums. As it nears the end, the drums take reign and the synth fades back a bit. It is not a very expressive track, and whatever cosmic story it may be telling it is not a particularly emotive one. Though it is quite possible that the very monotony of this composition is meant to convey a constancy of a power that is infinite in makeup, and we just happened to witness it during one of its seemingly endless personal cognitive odysseys through time and space.

Static like effects and a mid tempo rock-ish drum beat lead the way into the closing track of the album, “Through Time”. We are all time travelers here, and we are entering a perilous territory. Once we are through the door, the mood lightens up and a strange window opens. Energy washes over us marked by a driving drum rhythm with a scratchy synth underbelly. Another moog layer of higher sweeping notes underscores this passage. Things are happening in time all around us, oftentimes frantic and jubilant. But whatever lighter mood was being so carefully established sinks again into a jarring interplay of hoarse keyboards and a cautionary incisive drum line. Drums pick up an almost industrial feel here and things get gloomy and oppressive. Maybe it is time to get out and get back to the present, something our minds are more accustomed to. Another layer of lighter keys begins its serenade in the background but things still feel wrong, because at this point it is the lightness of a psychotic waltz rather than an airy interlude. Dementia is closing in and we need to escape while our identities are still intact. Finally, as drums fade, this expedition seems to be nearing an end. Things slow down, fall apart, and move toward entropy, as a keyboard, a lonely flickering candle, leads us out of this increasingly narrowing tunnel of madness. Reality never tasted so sweet.

Instrumental darkwave and this album specifically, are not for everyone. For most it is the sort of experience that is best processed as a supporting element in the background while we devote our primary focus to something more corporeal, like browsing the web or fixing a printer. Occasionally the mind picks up on something in the music that draws us in for a while. The rest of the time it is a pleasant non-invasive backdrop. For some, though, this album will offer a kaleidoscopic journey through rich sonic fields of frolicking moods and textured imagery that only instrumental compositions can offer with such lucidity. This album is not perfect. It could stand to benefit from a less glacial pacing, which slows down to a crawl sometimes. A greater, more detailed infusion of emotions would have certainly made it more inviting. Such as it is, it is a very decent but not an overly challenging effort. This one is for fans of instrumental synth darkwave only, with no crossover appeal. The only reason I even bring up crossover appeal is due to some progressive passages as indicated by references to Glass Hammer, Jordan Rudess and Mahavishnu Orchestra, which may have otherwise, if delivered in greater quantity, enticed fans of various progressive rock and post-rock niches.

Release Date: February 3, 2009
Label: Relapse Records

TRACK LISTING

1. Spirit Animal
2. Spirit Warrior
3. Earthly Powers
4. Cosmic Powers
5. Through Time

Total playing time: 57:54

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