Project Skyward - Moved by Opposing Forces

  by Chris Jones

published: 15 / 12 / 2009

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Review

Music is a strange thing and I'm going to do something I don't normally do in a review. Here is a snippet from the press material that came with the album: "Like a chance meeting in space between Flying Saucer Attack and the Cocteau Twins...modulated guitars, sublime electronics and breathy boy/girl harmonies combine to create a boundless soundscape which is radical yet so recognizable..." For the most part, I agree with all of that, yet somehow I've had a hard time coming to terms with this album and I'm not quite sure why. Project Skyward is the project of Ryan Field and this is the second album he has released under the Project Skyward moniker. The music is indeed filled with "modulated guitars" and cosmic synth tones backed by subtle beats. The album has a celestial vibe to it that seems fitting given Field's educational background in holistic science and astronomy. Now I'm not sure if knowing what Field's studied played a factor here or not, but I think one thing that has made it hard for me to feel at ease with this album is that I get some sort of New Age vibe when I listen to it.And unfortunately, I've never been a fan of the New Age vibe. Now it's quite possible that what I take as a New Age vibe may be what others would site as the Cocteau Twins part of the equation. And maybe I would just prefer more Flying Saucer Attack in the mix. That said, I think if you are a fan of ethereal, electro-shoegaze music, it's worth giving this album a listen to see where it takes you.

Track Listing:-

1 Canis Major
2 Sirius The Brightest Star (Album Mix)
3 Means Nothing Today
4 Superblaster
5 Hungry Ghost (Album Mix)
6 Lunacy
7 Fractured
8 Memories Just Watch Away
9 Fairweather Friend
10 Omniscience (Reprise)

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