Hello again, Extra Pulp readers! It seems like it's been so long. I hope you guys like the changes I've made to the website since our last post, which includes more about myself and the blog in general.
No audio version for this one, but you can listen along to the album here. If you like it, please consider purchasing it and supporting the artist!
This month on Extra Pulp OJ we have a first: an album review! I chose Sithu Aye's Set Course for Andromeda as the subject of review because it offered me a unique opportunity to dissect something that is very up-for-interpretation but also has an absolute narrative. First and foremost, I'd like to get the formalities out of the way.
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| Sithu Aye's Bandcamp Banner |
Sithu Aye is an instrumental progressive-metal (read as: djent) act from Moscow, though actually defining his sound is more difficult than calling it "prog." At times, Sithu is absolutely heavy metal, but that's not to say he doesn't explore genres outside of the metal and progressive scope(s). You'll often find that he has the chops to play any type of music, seriously or not.
Back to the album, Set Course for Andromeda's discs tell two stories that are equally disconnected and one-in-the-same. The first disc tells the story of a group of space cadets who travel to the Andromeda galaxy -- much like the album's name implies. The second disc tells a story of an inhabitant of the Andromeda galaxy's heroic journey. All of the tracks on the second disc are intended to be enjoyed as one 29-minute song broken into parts to starkly contrast the first disc, which utilizes hard cuts between drastically different songs to really capture the differences between them.
As a disclaimer, I absolutely adore this album, as well as Sithu as an artist. As a way to combat this bias, this review will be very harsh when it comes to the ratings following the tracks. Even a song I might rate as [5/10] is one I would find enjoyable, but graded on my harsh curve, it doesn't stand up to the other tracks/the standard I set for the album. Otherwise, We'd have a bunch of [9/10]s and [10/10]s
For the first disc, I'll discuss each track separately. The second disc will be discussed as one coherent track, though I will address the different parts as needed. Also, all artwork used in this post was created by Sithu Aye, though some were edited by myself (mostly text removal).
Finally, you can listen to the album as I dissect it either from YouTube or Bandcamp (I personally recommend Bandcamp, as the tracks are actually separated.)
Disc One
1. Space Cadet
If there's one thing to say about Set Course for Andromeda, it's that Sithu definitely captures the atmosphere (no pun intended) of space travel, and he does so from the get-go. Oftentimes, intro tracks are easily thrown to the side because they tend to be little snippets of an idea, and they're almost always the weakest stand-alone track; they're little more than an intro to track #2.
"Space Cadet" however feels like an opening scene of a movie, or waking up to a new day. In terms of musical structure, I can't necessarily say it does anything new and game changing, but the main melody is so perfect. It's light and easy, and the electric ambience makes the whole track sounds like space. [6.5/10]
"Space Cadet" however feels like an opening scene of a movie, or waking up to a new day. In terms of musical structure, I can't necessarily say it does anything new and game changing, but the main melody is so perfect. It's light and easy, and the electric ambience makes the whole track sounds like space. [6.5/10]
2. Set Course for Andromeda!!!
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| Artwork for Set Course for Andromeda!!! |
Appropriately, Set Course...!!! sounds like the epitome of the album; It's got Sithu's signature sound all over it, but what overshadows that is how its intensity varies throughout the entire track.
It starts off with the intense, staccato guitar that's as proggy as it gets, and eventually settles down into an open-sounding section. We see this throughout the entirety of the first half of the album. Sithu Aye explores all of the chaos and [possibly over-]peacefulness that defines space travel. Every serene moment needs to be appreciated because, for one, it's the unique serenity of space, and two, things can go wrong at any moment, and when floating through space, that could be the death of you.
From the 4:16 mark in Set Course...!!! to the end of the track is one of my favorite places on the album. It's starts with an acrobatic lick or five, then it gets somber, bringing in Yvette Young to soothe us with some wonderful violin in unison with an acoustic guitar. Sithu round us back to the main theme of Space Cadet with a bass guitar feature that abruptly moves into the final section.
The whole song is praise worthy, especially the second half. [9/10]
3. Constants and Variables
As I somewhat mentioned, Sithu ordered the tracks in the first disc in such a way that really shows off their diversity. I haven't heard anything as heavy as the opening of Constants and Variables from Sithu Aye in a long time.
The whole first minute and a half of this track is heavy and driving. He substitutes the old school electronic sound from the first two tracks with a guitar track that's not quite melodic, but it's also not quite mindless sweeping up and down a scale (I also can't quite tell if there's a MIDI-track behind and in unison with it). One of my only complaints with the album is that this section seems a bit too long; by the time we get to the chord changes, I'm bored with it.
For a track that I had so much excitement for in the opening minute, this song was oddly disappointing -- probably the low point in the album. I never have been one to enjoy the monotony of the overly-heavy sounding pieces though, which is why I think I find myself preferring Sithu's newer sound over his older tracks. Away from the negative criticism, I love the bold idea to add an acoustic guitar to possibly the heaviest track on the album, and Sithu makes it work.
Yet again, this track comes through most in the second half, capturing the setting of floating around in space. The ambiance is almost breathtaking, especially in the fading echos that start around the 5:45 mark. You feel like something is constantly disappearing in the vast, open blackness, like stars giving one last flicker before fading away into the nothingness.
The other major part I really liked from the final few minutes of Constants and Variables was the dissonant lead guitar that starts around the 6:17 mark. If I praised every solo in the album, I wouldn't be able to highlight all of my favorites, but Stephen Taranto's solo in the final minute and a half is so perfectly menacing, and so completely different from Sithu's style. In mass amounts, I don't think I like the sound, but this little tidbit of it keeps me coming back to a track I just kind of bear through for the first half. [5/10]
4. Spiral
Wanna know a secret? I didn't like this track the first time I heard it. I kind of liked it when Sithu played it in a Christmas sweater on Instagram, but on the first listen, I was very unimpressed. Now, I wonder what in the world I wasn't getting because all I want in my life is more "jazz" like this from Sithu.
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| Artwork for Spiral |
Unlike the rest of the tracks on the first disc, Spiral isn't a long track at 4 minutes 20 seconds, and it doesn't seem to explore the perils vs. beauty aspect of the journey in space; It's all so light and whimsical.
In general, the melody in Spiral wasn't particularly memorably to me the first couple of times around, but that worked wonders for the track. Instead of remembering the melodies, I remembered the experience. That being said, The section from ~1:55 to about 2:16 is one of my absolute favorite moments on the album, and it's immediately followed by an absolutely fantastic rhythmic section that leads into the guitar solo "back-and-forth" between Sithu Aye and Plini (who, by the way, is undoubtedly my favorite guitarist).
The drum solo is a bit silly to me, but silly and Sithu go together like peas and carrots. [9/10]
5. Beyond the Boundary
This is my favorite track on the album. It's also the track that I think best depicts the ups and downs of the journey. Those points aren't necessarily related. Kind of a side thing here, Sithu Aye likes to say that he's defined by the four notes, but I don't know that anything sounds more Sithu than the lick from ~1:32 to 1:36.
Beyond the Boundary starts of really high, but it quickly breaks down and begs you to rest a while. Up until (almost) the 3 minute mark, this song absolutely nails the potential that space as a subject offers in the form of relaxation.
Andromeda is over 2.5 million light years away, so the journey there -- even with futuristic tech -- would take an incredible amount of time. I don't think it's out of the question that it would take multiple lifetimes.
There's a good chance that you read that and say, "Well duh, Tanner, Even at light speed it's take over 2.5 million years! That's definitely a lot of lifetimes," which is the conclusion I want you to draw. The title of this track, though is Beyond the Boundary. Beyond the boundary of what, though?
Another disclaimer, I really don't think this is meant to be thought through this far, it's just a song -- but this is what I hear every time I get to this song. I hear people living a long life where it at least seems like all they've ever known was this trip to the Andromeda galaxy. It's people relaxing, letting the days pass by (something along the lines of living a lifetime in the vaults in Fallout)
Until something happens...
That something, as I hear it, is the key to this journey: they're passing beyond or through something, maybe a black hole or a worm hole, (an event horizon, maybe?) but it's something potentially dangerous.
Once that passes though (now we're at the 3:26 mark), things are getting exciting. I love the use of the almost jumbled guitar at 3:39, like someone can't contain their jubilation! As if the destination is in sight.
Again, the highs and lows in this track are amazing, and that's not to discredit the melodies, either; some of the best in the album are in this track.
Once we hit ~4:30 though, all bets are off. Sithu does some stuff in this part of the track that are completely outside of the realm of what I imagine Sithu being. Maybe that's what he means by "Beyond the Boundary."
I know the feature guitarist in this song is David Maxim Micic, but the entire final 2 and a half minutes of this song has a unique Periphery + Dream Theater vibe to me, which is about as big of a compliment as I can hand out. This song in its entirety is golden, and the pinnacle of the album. [10/10]
Part III including "trials" in it's name, however, is perfect. from the beginning of the track, it's as if something's been unveiled to the hero. There's worry, but not distress; there's something daunting ahead. This is yet another track in this album where the second half puts the first to shame.
The transition to Part IV is so smooth, even with how drastically different the tones are. This short, two-and-a-half minute track is what every heavy instrumental song should aim to be, but I think it only achieves that title by being in the context of The Andromedan. In this song, I imagine the Hero has to come face to face with the real evil, whatever it may be -- though the title of the next track makes me believe it's something internal. Perhaps the point of the Hero's journey is to find salvation for himself, not to be salvation for others.
Part V, or "Rebirth" is where I wish the album ended. No, it's not as good as the three songs that proceed it, but it's movement from harsh to peaceful to triumphant is everything I want in an ending (and that solo at the end is orgasmic).
Part VI feels more like an epilogue and a nod to the first track than a true ending. I can appreciate the consistency of ending the second disc in the same fashion as the first disc, but I really felt like at this point, the story is dragged out. However, I would love to hear Sithu's explanation as to who the Mother of Creation is, and what she does during her appearance in this story. Perhaps she just shows up to play that solo at ~the 2 minute mark.
Part II: Stand-alone [6.5/10] as part of The Andromedan [5/5]
Part III: Stand-alone [9/10] as part of The Andromedan [5/5]
Part IV: Stand-alone [7.5/10] as part of The Andromedan [5/5]
Part V: Stand-alone [8.5/10] as part of The Andromedan [4/5]
Part VI: Stand-alone [6/10] as part of The Andromedan [1.5/5]
...We Actually Made it!!!:8
6. Transient Transistors
If you took Sithu's two most recent EPs, Pulse (2014) & The Senpai EP (2015), and put them in a blender to create one song, you'd have Transient Transistors.
As a result, This song sounds more Sithu Aye and less Andromeda. There are still the elements of space-iness sprinkled all over, but if you told me that this track was wrote before the Album was conceptualized, I would believe you.
That's not to take away from the song in any capacity, however. Transient Transistors is consistently heavy without bringing along the monotony that plagues tracks that are heavy for the sake of being so. The small section from 2:18 - 2:30 is arguably the most fun section of the album.
There's not a lot to be said about this track that can't be said about many of Sithu's previous works. It sounds familiar, which if nothing else is a nice reaffirmation that he is still Sithu. It's not particular risky, but not every song has to be. [7/10]
7. ...We Actually Made it to Andromeda!!!
I love this track's concept; it makes me wonder if it or Set Course!!! was written first. Most of We Actually Made it is Set Course in a different time signature. This effectively gives the track a triumphant feeling while still being reminiscent of the beginning of the journey/album. It's a recycled song in the best sense.
Because Sithu released Set Course!!! as a single before the album was released, the idea that this is the end track of the two is sold extremely well for fans who anticipated the release as much as I did.
Mark Halcomb (Periphery) is another one of my all-time favorite guitarists, but I would have much preferred to hear him featured in a slower, more melodic setting. He absolutely shreds to end We Actually Made it!!! and he definitely wrote something uniquely Mark, but for reasons I cannot explain, I was left wanting something more.
Overall, We Actually Made it!!! is a great way to end the first disc, but the sound outside the experience is a forgettable one. [6/10]
Disc Two
The Andromedan(s)
Disc 2 of Set Course for Andromeda is, again, intended to be experienced as one complete work. The second disc finds success in this strategy to varying degrees throughout. For example, if parts II-IV were released as one song, it'd be my favorite track on the album. However, parts I and VI feel like very separate, disconnected tracks -- especially part I, thought I think it suffers in that regard from being another single that predated the album.
The Andromedan creates a very specific race in my mind, and I imagine it does the same for others, but probably not the same image. This is something I'd love to hear from others -- what they imagine the Adromedans are like.
For whatever reason, this album makes me think a lot about Futurama, and I picture the Andromedans as something akin to the Martians from that show. I don't so much imagine them looking like the Martians, but acting like them to some extent. To be more precise (and to make some sense for people who aren't Futurama fans), I imagine them having a ritualistic and "one with nature" lifestyle like native American's are often shown to have.
Some of the track names support this idea -- names like Mystic Village, The Trials of the Elements and Mother of Creation.
The Journey
The hero's journey in the second disc is very expressive, and I love the experience. As I interpret it:
Part I introduces the themes that mirror the life of the Andromeda's. It also introduces the idea that there will be a journey. I like the imagery of that journey being a physical one taken by foot to some location.
Part II includes my first fault with the names of the track. This track feels much more like a "first step" to me. I can easily visualize a sunrise, or maybe before-dawn twilight, and the hero imagining the journey ahead of him. Both the highs and lows of this song sound expectant, and not really like it's currently being experienced.
Part I introduces the themes that mirror the life of the Andromeda's. It also introduces the idea that there will be a journey. I like the imagery of that journey being a physical one taken by foot to some location.
Part II includes my first fault with the names of the track. This track feels much more like a "first step" to me. I can easily visualize a sunrise, or maybe before-dawn twilight, and the hero imagining the journey ahead of him. Both the highs and lows of this song sound expectant, and not really like it's currently being experienced.
Part III including "trials" in it's name, however, is perfect. from the beginning of the track, it's as if something's been unveiled to the hero. There's worry, but not distress; there's something daunting ahead. This is yet another track in this album where the second half puts the first to shame.
The transition to Part IV is so smooth, even with how drastically different the tones are. This short, two-and-a-half minute track is what every heavy instrumental song should aim to be, but I think it only achieves that title by being in the context of The Andromedan. In this song, I imagine the Hero has to come face to face with the real evil, whatever it may be -- though the title of the next track makes me believe it's something internal. Perhaps the point of the Hero's journey is to find salvation for himself, not to be salvation for others.
Part V, or "Rebirth" is where I wish the album ended. No, it's not as good as the three songs that proceed it, but it's movement from harsh to peaceful to triumphant is everything I want in an ending (and that solo at the end is orgasmic).
Part VI feels more like an epilogue and a nod to the first track than a true ending. I can appreciate the consistency of ending the second disc in the same fashion as the first disc, but I really felt like at this point, the story is dragged out. However, I would love to hear Sithu's explanation as to who the Mother of Creation is, and what she does during her appearance in this story. Perhaps she just shows up to play that solo at ~the 2 minute mark.
The Review
Part I: Stand-alone [10/10] as part of The Andromedan [3/5]
Part III: Stand-alone [9/10] as part of The Andromedan [5/5]
Part IV: Stand-alone [7.5/10] as part of The Andromedan [5/5]
Part V: Stand-alone [8.5/10] as part of The Andromedan [4/5]
Part VI: Stand-alone [6/10] as part of The Andromedan [1.5/5]
Final Thoughts
As I said, I absolutely adore this album. My final thoughts are that you should go buy the album.
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| Seriously, go buy it. |
I'm just kidding, I do have some other thoughts -- namely that I probably won't be doing another album review for quite a while, so I hope you all enjoyed this one. If you want to know my true biased feelings and ratings of the songs in this album, here they are (out of 10):
Space Cadet: 7.5
Set Course for Andromeda!!!: 9.5
Constants & Variables: 7.5
Spiral: 10
Beyond the Boundary: 10
Transient Transistors: 8.5Set Course for Andromeda!!!: 9.5
Constants & Variables: 7.5
Spiral: 10
Beyond the Boundary: 10
...We Actually Made it!!!:8
The Andromedan: 9
Part I: A Single Step: 10Part II: Mystic Village : 8
Part III: Trials of the Elements: 10
Part IV: The Darkness Within: 8.5
Part V: Rebirth: 9.5
Part VI: Mother of Creation: 8
And that's why I was a lot more harsh. As always, I hope you guys enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed bringing it to you. If you enjoyed this piece and my reviewing style, check out Finalemonogatari: part I, my spoiler-free introduction/review of The Monogatari Series!
I'll see you next month! Take care, Pulp-pourri!
I'll see you next month! Take care, Pulp-pourri!
