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Album Review

Syntaks
Nachtblende Parallax Sounds

Article written by Kev W - Nov 17, 2011

The latest album from Denmark's Syntaks is extremely delicate and light, in a way that seems not to be of this world. Yep, it's that classic lazy journalist's friend "ethereal" alright. The press release hails this as the duo's broadest ranging album to date, if so it's difficult to imagine how. There are few surprises to be found among the 17 tracks that make up 'Nachtblende', so much so that it all seems to blend into one. Despite this there are occasional elements of beauty to be discovered within the fog of dubby beats and drawn out wafty ambience.

Anna Cecilia's breathy, wordless sighs are an appealing addition to the washes of synth, and intermittenlty plucked guitar and tapped piano pierce through the mist like a welcome beacon of light in a storm. Upon first listen this is an album that threatens to unravel itself and blossom after repeat plays, but sadly this promise remains unfulfilled. The same can be said of most of the tracks individually, often beginning with hope, only to peter out without ever really developing. There are highlights; 'When Tomorrow Turns A Million' and 'Days Of Future Pasts' both peek tentatively above the hazey parapet before being engulfed by it once more.

When compared to others to tread a similar path, 'Nachtblende' falls short. It doesn't have the beauty of Ulrich Schnauss' soundscapes, the melodic sentimentality of The Radio Dept.'s more thoughtful moments, nor the balls and depth of Engineers. Subsequently it's hard to find a use for this album besides as fairly pleasant, innocuous background music. Oh, Syntaks, I've tried, really I have, but these 67 minutes of wishy-washy atmospherics just bored me to tears.

Links:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Syntaks/195887208880
http://www.parallaxsounds.com/
http://www.myspace.com/syntaks