So this one today from the slightly obscure and dusty book called “The Annals of Forgotten Side-projects” Brought forward today on a scruffy and coffee ringed page is Æon Spoke a band, though not quite a one-off as many of these side projects are: this, however, This is their second album.
A project from Paul Masvidal and Sean Reinert of Cynic fame they come together in this their the version of alternative rock. And if you know who these two guys are you know they can play and have some impressive pedigree, but what is this can bring to your ears. Let me break it down.
Newer Cynic style of floaty psychedelic vocals is present. so is the shoe-gaze style of guitars, taken right from “Traced In Air” This gives shades of alternative rock and a twist, with a mood of the atmospherics of a chill-out night at a classy if a little hipster-filled coffee shop.
Track 2 is where things start moving, to the beat of a The Beatles-like song “No Answers” before going to back to more chilled places in later tracks. This is far from metal as you can get while keeping it just in sight line, like a lighthouse on the horizon from the window of the library. “just where is this cafe anyway?” There is a little bit distorted guitar here, but that the most of what you get like a whiff of effervescence of the sea air outside. There is a lot of moods here and an air of depressive rock a la Anathema's Later style but more upbeat in a way in places.
Yet there is some enjoyment to be had there is a nice feel to this, its a great pause from the metal like a refreshing coffee, shame about all the hipsters floating around.
