c t e p h i n
3 x CDr
PRESS / REVIEWS
Reviewed on WONDERFUL WOODEN REASONS
http://wonderfulwoodenreasons.homestead.com/current.html
My previous exposure to Ctephin had been via their riotous releases on the Roil Noise label which while being enjoyable enough are of a form that interests me less and less of late. So, with this in mind, it was with a little trepidation that I slotted the first of this trio of seedees into my player but to say I was pleasantly surprised would be a massive understatement.
Disc one is beautiful.It is the sound of loss, forgetfulness, foreboding and melancholy. Ctephin have taken the noise they are so fond of and bound it tightly within a previously hidden compositional skill that took my breath away. I was so utterly absorbed into the music that when disturbed by my partner I was shocked to realise only two tracks had passed in what seemed like a journey of an hour. Some of the production is a little muddy (particularly on track 4) but the music more than covers this minor shortfall.
Disc two is a slightly more intense affair although it does continue pretty much where disc one leaves off. This one develops in a more sci-fi sounding direction full of kaleidoscopic swirls and xenomorph chittering.
Disc three is where the Ctephin I already knew come out and play and the seedee is dominated by slowly evolving noise rumbles. It's well enough made but didn't particularly engage my interest.
A 3 disc set was always going to be a difficult prospect to pull off but it must be said that Ctephin have raised their game mightily and, for the most part, have succeeded with aplomb. For me the first two discs (the first in particular) are fine sets of muscular yet atmospheric compositions that hooked me utterly and refused to relinquish that hold until they were good and ready to do so.
Recommended.
Reviewed on PAN.O.RA.MA
http://panoramajournal.blogspot.com/
CTEPHIN is a thelemic act coming from Oklahoma Usa, being the first project of the Umbrella Noize Collective. Its musik is just amazing drone ambient with strong structures and dense atmospheres with some noise elemets.This is the CTEPHIN’s personal interpretation of the Aleister Crowley's "The Book of the Law" has been developed through 3 cdr's with more than 3 hours of thelemic splendour in which you shall be illuminated due the intense moments and in depth compositions released here. The book I: Starflesh, include a total of 7 compositions..."the gemmed Azure" opens the Cd, with dense drone structures invoking nuit through subliminal soundscapes. Then comes "Faery", built into acoustic guitar parts and sound effects, transport the listener to anther realm of existence due the magnificent of the whole track.” Her Soft feet Not Hurting The Little Flowers" is just brilliant ,showing us ambient structures dressed with beauty, sad melodies from time to time, but still with in deep effects surrounding the whole track.” To Me" arrives through drone elements and suggestive transformations.” The Word Of The Law Is Thelema", structure into strong musical patterns and drone ambient soundscapes crawling through the whole structure makes of this track, a very interesting piece of experimental nature, due how the track is evolving with the pass of minutes."Starflesh" and "At Last He Knewth Me" closest the cd for the upcoming second one…Book II:"The Hidding",is developed through 8 compositions in which Hadit,arises from the void to full your will, a manifestation which starts with "dissolution" a drone ambient structure with strong solid elements and repetitive defragmentation of sounds. “Axel Of The Wheel” is a track built into obscure, vaporous ambient elements showing us the potential of CTEPHIN in all its own splendour. "Exposure Of Innocence" is evoked through pure hypnotic, disturbing soundscapes, giving us enough reasons to keep on hearing the rest of the tracks including here.” Existence Is Pure Joy" and "Which Remains" are more deep drone ambient ones with such few different elements here and there. “The Slaves Of Because”, emerges as experimental structures mutating all the time into drone atmospheres. And closing the release are "A caress Of Hells own Worm" and "The Love Of Nu In The Star-lit Heaven".Ra Hoor Kuit emerges from its throne, as a god of Vengeance and war through Book III : Force And fire”, emanating 8 compositions, and opening with "Enginery Of War”, Unity Uttermost Showed”,” A Secret Door" three tracks full of disturbing catastrophic drone noise structures able to destroy everything its step. Then comes "Blind ones" a dirty drone ones but this time with some small different traces here and there in comparison the last ones.” Adorations" appears as a golden pearl in an ocean full of dense visions and abstract realities."Ompehda",2LetMary Inviolate Be Torn Upon Wheels" and "Aum-Ha",closest the third final chapter.CTEPHIN,has developed a very interesting piece of magickal transformations through this release in which you shall explore the diverse aspects of the current 93 in a personal but strong nature...so no more words,Love Is The Law,Love Under Will!!!
Reviewed on VITAL WEEKLY
http://www.vitalweekly.net/
When I spot things like 'Liber XXXI' I always approach them with care, as I am never too fond of all those magickal, psychik things. When released by RONF it's bound to be noise, but hey its not. Ctephin is a duo of StF and Aedria, who are responsible for the music. Three hours and some minutes actually, all dealing with Crowley's 'The Book Of The Law' and me thinks that's a bit overdone, even when all three have a distinct different sounds. Book III is obviously the noise end of things whereas Book I the ambient side. Book II lies somewhere in between those ends. But which CDs being more than an hour its all a bit much, certainly Book III is a heavy volume in that respect. Each of the books suffers a bit of too much of the same idea. Once you get the ambient drift of Ctephin playing around with guitars and sound effects, say when half the disc is done, there is not much need to get the other half too. Which goes for the other two releases as well. the nice thing is that they seem to be using different instruments per book, although for II and III its hard to specify that - as the covers aren't always that clear in that respect. I think when these fifty copies are gone, it would be a wise thing to make a selection of all three, picking the best tracks and release a really nice and varied release. Some of these pieces deserve to be heard in a broader context. Nice but too much. (FdW)
