DEMIANS
"Building an Empire" (InsideOut
Music; 2008)
Reviewed by Jeff Rogers
I’m really speechless after listening to this disc. It’s a one man band from
France that produces some of the eeriest and most impressionable progressive music I’ve heard in awhile. Steven Wilson from Porcupine Tree fame gives this guy more
props than anybody, probably because they sound the same in some instances.
Nicholas Chapel started this album with complete naivety. He notes that he used no
boundaries and no expectations and had only a vision that took him on this journey. He uses feelings and spiritually to create his craft. He also uses strings to convey emotion and heavy guitars to ward off struggle. There’s a complete surrounding of his musical
sound; you’ll pivot toward certain parts for different reasons.
This disc will have you listening from start to finish without even knowing it. I challenge you to put this on your MP3 player and
go for a walk. Chances are you’ll find yourself a few miles from your
destination without realizing how you got there. "Building an Empire"
is sort of hypnotic in parts. There are a lot of textures and layers that either
unfold into a song or they act to cover something up.
I like Porcupine Tree and Steven Wilson’s style so this disc appealed to me, plus the fact that it’s a solo project really inspired me. There are some folk sounds during your listening time but they are placed to slow down your mind and cause you to
focus. There are also some meaty riffs that will make you quicken your gait. This isn’t an everyday disc and that
helps but you’ll want to listen all the way through at least the first time, that way you’ll get a feel for the arrangement. Then, you’ll be able to understand where the parts that need a second
(or third) listen are located.
Demians: Nicholas Chapel. (He does have a touring band to support his musical talent.)
For more information, check out http://www.myspace.com/demiansmusic
or http://www.demiansmusic.com.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2008 by R. Scott Bolton. All
rights reserved.
Revised: 18 Nov 2024 13:33:12 -0500
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