Theys, Cédric: Colour Spectrum

Cédric Theys is a name unfamiliar to me, until I received his latest album in the mail. He has been making music for around twenty-five years, including his ambient album Eternity’s Antechamber, his experimental duo DIM13NSION, and work with his brother Alban, who also appears on Theys’ latest album titled Colour Spectrum. Since 2015 Theys has focused his attention on the touch guitar and on Colour Spectrum his instrument of choice is the U8 (8 string touch guitar).

This is a difficult album to pigeonhole as it ventures into a multitude of genres including ambient, chamber music, art rock, and prog. The music is layered and detailed, the nuance could be lost on those not paying close attention. Colour Spectrum is an album that demands your undivided focus to realize its full potential.

The disc begins with the multi-faceted “Weaving Light� and its adventurous chamber-like arrangement, creative use of piano and bass clarinet, dreamy percussion, and spacious drumming. Its one of those songs that grows slowly, taking its time to fully evolve, so as a listener it is easy to miss its different moods and textures. Theys’ guitar work can be both soft and biting. “Silver Sands� has a mellow mood with deep bass clarinet and atmospheric lead guitar. Again, this is music you need to listen to closely to appreciate all the details. Heavier guitar led moments are incorporated with skill and precision. Deborah Schmit-Lobis’ winding piano and Theys’ U8 meld together nicely in “Sea Of Change�, with Troy Jones’ innovative drumming keeping all the disparate parts together making a cohesive whole. On “Translucent Rainbow�, Theys’ touch guitar has a clean keyboard-like sound reminding me a little of ‘70s Alan Parsons and on the eclectic “Coding Shades� the mood is heavier with a deep low end and fantastic all around musicianship.

Ten tracks and over fifty minutes of imaginative progressive music for prog heads to check out. Sounds like a winner in my book. Recommended.

Track Listing:
1. Weaving Light (6:28)
2. Silver Sands (5:32)
3. Sea Of Change (5:10)
4. Translucent Rainbow (3:36)
5. Coding Shades (3:48)
6. Fallen Feather (5:45)
7. White Moons (7:12)
8. Colouring The Skies (4:39)
9. Invisible Light (5:58)
10. Magnet Metal (3:20)

Added: September 26th 2024
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Artist's Official Site
Hits: 127
Language: english

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