SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE ASTEROID NO. 4 – SEVERAL SHAPES OF SOLAR FLARES

THE ASTEROID NO. 4
SEVERAL SHAPES OF SOLAR FLARES
CLUB AC30/LITTLE CLOUD RECORDS

As nostalgic as Several Shapes Of Solar Flares is, it’s difficult to create such music without the listener straying too far from the sounds and voices that placed them there in the first place. The Asteroid No. 4’s newest album is reminiscent of the past as a whole, bringing one back to simpler times through longing and movie-like songs that sweep people off their feet into a world where memories roam free. The listener, however, is occasionally found to be too immersed in the liberty of remembering.

An immediate sense of being caught in a whirlwind of bliss and escaping the need to think analytically is the effect that “Under Lock And Key” provides one with right from the start. This sets the tone for the rest of the album, but this particular song is essential in setting the foundation for preparing one to experience the songs that follow rather than understand them.

A handful of songs sprinkled throughout the album create an experience for the listener similar to that of a movie. “Rescue”, for example, brought back a flood of memories in regard to watching superhero movies, or of feeling immersed in a film with a powerful song playing over the end-credits. The thing about music in this context, however, is that it is only an addition to something else. Instead, their music should be the main focus of their album. It clearly draws people in, but it is something else they stay for.

“Elevator” exhibits this same attitude about avoiding the spotlight. The synth, or rather pinging sound that bounces around the listener creates the illusion that the music is happening around someone rather than for someone. Not to say the effect is not intriguing, because it most definitely is. It is simply one of a few examples of there being a distant connection between the individual and the music playing from their headphones or speakers. The trouble seems to be that the songs are almost holding back from reaching their full potential by leading one to put their focus elsewhere.

Several Shapes Of Solar Flares immerses people in their music, as opposed to having their music be a part of someone else’s story. While the steady tunes dance around listeners in a way that allows for one to dive deep into their memories, the feeling is too strong. One tends to get lost in their own mind, leaving the music in the backdrop when it deserves to be held in front of a spotlight.

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