Cecilia:: Eyes - Disappearance

by Anthony Strutt

published: 1 / 7 / 2014

Label: Sabam
Format: CD

Darkly elegant instrumental post-rock on fourth album from Belgium-based five-piece, Cecilia:: Eyes

Review

Cecilia::Eyes are a Belgium-based instrumental five-piece, which consists of Christopher Thys (guitar), Gauthier Vilain (guitar, samples), Michael Colart (guitars and bass) and Xavier Waerenburgh (drums). They formed in 2004, and released their debut mini album/EP 'Echoes from the Attic' in 2005. This was followed by their second album 'Mountaintops are Sometimes Closer to the Moon', while their previous album 'Here Dead We Lie' came out in 2009. 'Disappearance', their latest album, is opened with 'Bellflowers', which is gentle on the ears yet flows in almost an an unearthly way that is eerie and slow and very seductive. Its pace washes over you like a masterclass in dreampop. 'Lord Howe Rise' recalls in its bleak moodiness the Cure of 'Pornography', and brings you right down and back into the real world of black and white rainy streets and the coldest of winters. 'Loreta' grips you by the throat and slaps you hard on the face. It is deeply dark and makes no excuses for being so. This is delightful and perfectly-paced music that chills you and charms you to the very bone. 'Swallow the Key' is even darker. It drops you immediately into a nightmare world, and in doing so you enter into a landscape of shadows and fog, light blocked by dark, which is menacing and cruel, but totally inviting for the curious for a taste of the other side. 'Default Descent' recalls Ennio Morricone and is widescreen in its vision, sitting well with its magical trance-like beats. 'Isolated Shower' is much louder with a spoken word sample, and is hypnotic in its sound. The fact that there is hardly any vocals here or throughout doesn't stop the band having a huge voice. 'Reign', the final track, is slowly paced and recollects Mogwai, which is no bad way to end an album this good and that glows bright in the night time darkness. It is a very dark but elegant piece of work.