1 Nov 2024
UsernamePassword

Remember Me? | Join | Recover
Click here to sign in via social networking

Cybiont - Angels and Demons Album Review

18 Apr 2010 // A review by River Tucker
Cybiont 'Angels and Demons' CD Review

The first thing to strike me about the 'Angels and Demons' CD by Cybiont is the fantastic colourful artwork and environmentally conscious packaging.

Track One 'Take Me To The Moon' starts with a slow harmonic exploration into minimalism. The chorus line is somewhat awkward with a grating sample in the background. Righteous and uplifting lyrics hold the song together.

Track Two 'Hold On' swings with wordy verses that break into a plaintive chorus with triggered string and horn filling out the sound.

Track Three 'Demon On My Shoulder' has atmospheric guitar that gives the song depth. There's some nice crescendos and percussion.

Track Four 'Angel In The Closet' gently explores love and hope with some lovely atmospheric guitar by Malcolm D. It's a happy sound with a haunting edge.

There's a plethora of instruments throughout with various styles explored and layers making the sound rich and warm. Vocals are in the vein of early David Bowie or Nick Cave with an over-enunciated German sounding accent, which is great for moody or darker topics.

Track Five 'Butterflies' is uplifting with some really nice acoustic guitar holding the melody together. A retro drum sample is like water dripping on leaves, until the song starts to rock out.

Track Six 'American Cowboy' is dark and dirty with an industrial edge.

Track Seven 'Pig' is a questioning and mishmash of lyrical ideas.

Track Eight 'Doubt' quietly sneaks up on you, like a subconscious filled with well, doubt.

Track Nine 'Die Tomorrow' poses questions, which plead for your response. Lovely falsetto and accompanying piano gently ease the song along with a marching snare drum holding down the rhythm.

Track Ten 'Motionsickness' is again minimalist with interesting percussive loops. A bass line reminiscent of 1980's Bauhaus holds the track together.

Track Eleven 'Spare Roots' hauntingly explores the composers inner conscious sympathetically accompanied by female vocalist Lovisa Lindstrom. This is my favourite track on the CD.

Track Twelve 'The Inner Child' with its crazy carnival music is disquieting.

Track Thirteen 'What Happened To Time?' Is questioning and disjointed.

Track Fourteen 'Maybe Tomorrow' is short and sweet with its harmonic sound scape.

Track Fifteen 'Thanks' starts with vocals and piano and then bass, drums and guitar accompaniment slowly join in like waves lapping at the shore.

Track Sixteen 'Passing By' is like a walk in the park and softly closes out the CD.

Production level is great for this second solo CD from Cybiont, an elusive bedroom artist from Northland, New Zealand, who explores poetic social commentary and interpersonal musings. Emphasis on the vocal line is an acquired taste. Accompaniment by some well-arranged instrumentation makes it well worth a listen, if you like the experimental or alternative then this is an album for you.

Reviewer - River

 

About Cybiont

PRELUDE:
French scientist and visionary Joel de Rosnay, argues that we are on the verge of a profound evolutionary leap. This next stage in the natural progression from lower to higher levels of organization – cell into organism, organism into population, population into ecosystem – is the cybiont. A planetary super organism made up of all humans, machines, organisms, networks, and nations. A planetary brain - with humans as its neurons.

BIO:
CYBIONT is an earthling, located in New Zealand. The artists started to compose music in 2008.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Cybiont

Releases

So Much Work For Love
Year: 2011
Type: Album
Angels & Demons
Year: 2010
Type: Album
Dark Side Of My Spoon
Year: 2010
Type: Album

Other Reviews By River Tucker

Lucid Shift - EP Review: Aonaran
18 Oct 2024 // by River Tucker
You would be hard pressed to not get excited about Lucid Shift’s debut EP, Aonaran. But be warned, this release isn’t for the fainthearted.
Read More...
Amanaki - EP Review: Embers
22 Jul 2024 // by River Tucker
Amanaki might not be a household name yet, but along with their indie label, North Supply Co., they’re definitely on track to grab your attention.
Read More...
Silcrow - EP Review: Silcrow
14 Jun 2024 // by River Tucker
Aiming for the stars, Silcrow’s seven-track EP merges American-style rock with a touch of Seattle grunge in a well-produced release that will appeal to many generations of music lovers, but mainly to those whose musical awakening happened sometime in the 90’s.As well as changing their name from Close To The Bone to the much more kick-arse Silcrow, these four young guys from Auckland have been working hard on the live circuit (bar a short hiatus during lockdown) to get their songs fully dialled in and ready for the studio.
Read More...
Parasitic Infestation - EP Review: Promo EP
21 Apr 2024 // by River Tucker
If you’re looking for some great metal music, you’ve come to the right place. Hardworking up-and-coming band Parasitic Infestation, who specialise in Brutal Death Metal, are set to make your ears bleed with their latest promo release, consisting of three deliciously heavy songs (plus bonus tracks) that I’m sure you’ll enjoy.
Read More...
Album Review: The Death Spell
12 Dec 2023 // by River Tucker
There’s a real whisky drinking, bare knuckle fighting edge to the self-titled debut album by The Death Spell, kicking off with Nail You Higher Than Before. Obviously, song lyrics are in your face on this track, especially for any Christians in the audience, but you couldn’t ask for a better intro to the musical style of this Auckland-based band.
Read More...
Beastwars - Gig Review: Reign of the Beast @ Whanganui Musicians Club, Whanganui - 13/10/2023
15 Oct 2023 // by River Tucker
If you're into metal music, the Musicians Club in Whanganui was the place to be last Friday night for a feast of auditory delights to satisfy even the hungriest of souls. Brought to you by Lost Art and Panhead beer, Beastwars and Shepherds Reign headlined an epic concert that was set to bring the house down on the first leg of their not-to-be-missed Reign of the Beast tour.
Read More...
End of an Empire - Album Review: Best Laid Plans
25 Sep 2023 // by River Tucker
It’s been a couple of years since End of an Empire released their favourably reviewed debut album, Within, Without in 2020. Since then, the Wellington-based four-piece have obviously put their time to good use by writing Best Laid Plans, which is arguably one of the finest Hardcore releases to come out of New Zealand this year.
Read More...
The Rising Tide - Gig Review: Inferno - Youth Rock & Metal @ The Stomach, Palmerston North - 5/08/2023
07 Aug 2023 // by River Tucker
It’s not often that you get treated to a mid-winter concert where nearly every metal genre is being performed. But that’s exactly what happened at The Stomach in Palmerston North last Saturday night where four bands gave it their all in a rip-roaring all-ages show that will undoubtedly leave the hundred or so people who attended with lasting impressions.
Read More...
View All Articles By River Tucker

NZ Top 10 Singles

  • APT.
    ROSÉ And Bruno Mars
  • DIE WITH A SMILE
    Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars
  • BIRDS OF A FEATHER
    Billie Eilish
  • TASTE
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
    Gracie Abrams
  • ESPRESSO
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • SAILOR SONG
    Gigi Perez
  • LOSE CONTROL
    Teddy Swims
  • A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
    Shaboozey
  • GOOD LUCK, BABE!
    Chappell Roan
View the Full NZ Top 40...
muzic.net.nz Logo
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report a ProblemReport A Problem