'No Sky To Fall'
Clint Carney is an
enviable jack of all trades, lending his skills as a musician to a
number of other projects. But it his own project System Syn that he
founded in 1997 that is Carney's true Raison d'être.
Cathartic and cerebral in his approach to song-writing, Carney finely
balances club appeal with creative experimentation. Acclaimed albums
such as 'The Mourning Ritual' (2006), 'End' (2008) and 'Strangers'
(2010) consistently push the boundaries of his music and continue to
stand out as one of electronic musics most creative voices.
The
new album 'No Sky Fall' is once again lyrically focussed, and much
like it's predecessor feels a lot more restrained and subtle compared
to his work in Imperative Reaction and God Module. As on 'All Seasons
Pass' the subjects of the material are dark and personal, and the use of piano
and almost minimalistic song-construction heighten the emotion
expressed in the lyrics. Songs like 'The Boys Who Make The Music',
'Lost', and 'Empty' in particular give the album some introspective
weight. This side of Carney's song-writing may be something you either love or hate, but there is no denying he is good at it.
'No
Sky Fall' also makes good use of Carney's ear for a great synth
melody with some more dance orientated cuts that will appeal to those
who would rather let their bodies move. 'The Privileged', 'Daydream
From A Deathbed', 'Breathe in', and 'Truth And Consequence' in
particular will be received well on dance floors around the world
with their strong beats, subtle groove and memorable leads.
The
production and engineering as always is excellent, showing that
Carney's skills as a song-writer and only enhanced by his experience
behind a mixing desk. There are some genuinely unique and interesting
tracks that play around with the conventions of the
electro-industrial genre. The heavy focus on lyrically driven songs
can become a little draining after a while of extended listening. But
the quality of the execution always manages to carry you through with
ease.
This
is another strong offering under the System Syn name. It may not
surpass the very high benchmark set by the likes of 'The Mourning
Ritual' and 'End', but Carney continues to prove his worth and
continued evolution as a song-writer.