Canvas Solaris: Penumbra Diffuse

I have no idea how Canvas Solaris' new album Penumbra Diffuse will sit with the band's fans of the earlier album and EP, as the band has embraced a quite different songwriting approach this time. No worries though, this is still the same band who released Spatial/Design and Sublimation, and the uber-technical riffs and intricate arrangements are still certainly widely available on this disc. However, Penumbra Diffuse has a more expansive sound, with the addition of a good dose of keyboards and dense guitar harmonies. Not all the songs are as heavy as they get here, the band has toned down their single-minded, heavy-for-the-sake-of-being-heavy attitude. The songs are infused with creative energy and a plethora of atmospheric passages laced with engaging synth sequences.

Driven by guitarists Nathan Sapp and Ben Simpkins (who also handles the bass), and amazing drummer Hunter Ginn, the songs on Penumbra Diffuse are a lot more atmospheric and midtempo. Contrary to their previous efforts, the band is unafraid to write and perform all acoustic tracks or pieces completely captured by Tangerine Dream-like synthesizers. "Panormaic Long-Range Vertigo" is a short cut that opens the album with the classic Canvas Solaris type of fretwork we've come to expect from them. As the song proceeds though, Micro Moog synthesizers and Ginn's unusual combination of conga and djembe rhythms turn the piece into a rather slowed-down number that segues into the lengthy "Horizontal Radiant". Over 11 minutes, the song is essentially formulated by semi-electronic keyboard samples that statitacally throb through the whole piece. Placed on these sampled sounds are gentle 12- and 6-string acoustic guitars that are occasionally replaced with hammering electric rhythms before they calm down and give way to tribal conga and shaker sounds. The guitars are almost hypnotic, particularly when Sapp and Simpkins decide it's time to duel over a random bass pattern. Similarly, on "Luminescence", another 12-minute track, the band dabbles with frantic electric piano, repeated guitar chords that build on until a fiercely melodic section develops out of the experiment. Unlike the Spatial/Design EP, the death metal elements in the duo's riffage is completely gone. Even Ginn refrains from fast, double-bass drumming, save for "Accidents in Mutual Silence", which is grindingly heavy and allows zero moments for acoustic or atmospheric passages.

The other songs are equally impressive, if not more. I'm a big fan of Canvas Solaris' intricate soloing and heavy tendencies, but to see they are also capable of writing other stuff is amazing. "Vaihayasa", for example, is an all-acoustic song beginning with a nice classical intro. Ben Simpkins also plays some mandolin here while Sapp's guitar synthesizers create an almost psychedelic landscape. The song becomes twice as experimental when Ginn introduces his unique tabla, Moroccan clay drums, tambourine, and other percussive rhythm work. Despite being acoustic, this is perhaps the most brooding song on the album, and I'll give the guys extra props for being able to capture that vibe without relying on cliche keyboards like some other bands. The band's most daring song, perhaps even their most avant garde work, "Psychotropic Resonance", is a mix of a multitude dissonant chords married with dark ambient sections. Eerie synths and atonal guitar rhythms join to generate extra texture and eventually spiral into searing twin guitar leads with segments of cold acoustics underneath them.

I love all Canvas Solaris releases, and even though this one will take many spins to fully absorb, I feel Penumbra Diffuse might be their best work yet. Now they aren't just a band with extraordinarily talented musicians, but they also understand atmosphere and composition. Signing to Sensory was a very clever move on their part too. Also, considering they dedicated this album to the memory of Denis D'Amour, I think the Voivod man would be proud if he heard this album.

Track Listing

1. Panoramic Long-Range Vertigo
2. Horizontal Radiant
3. Accidents In Mutual Silence
4. Vaihayasa
5. To Fracture
6. Psychotropic Resonance
7. Luminescence

Added: April 25th 2006
Reviewer: Murat Batmaz
Score:
Related Link: Canvas Solaris website
Hits: 5826
Language: english

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