As aesthetics and concepts have had the ability to hold as much significance as the music itself, C V L T S' presentation, though admirably well designed, has never quite stood out. If you take a glance at the AMDISCS catalog, the wealth of other artists using esoteric symbolism in their names and collages of vintage imagery in their artwork may astound you. Unlike many, though, C V L T S pair a cryptic tenor comes paired with fittingly phantom music. After a couple of years spent issuing small-run tapes, the enigmatic duo have left us with their first vinyl release and a brief look into their eclectic pursuits.
Realiser has two settings: C V L T S' standard homegrown electronic excursions, and newer ventures into rock territory. Lingering in the yellow, "Wamego Fluff" subtly showcases a duet between drifting loops and blurry undulations. Though attaining less form than its predecessor, "Velvet Dreams" is a chaotic flurry of plush textures. Single "Brahma Weapons" is a driving psych-rock paean with swirling keys, cascading guitar bends, and a tense bass line. C V L T S even flirt with murky, vocal-led balladry on "Sandstone Retreat". Less familiar realms are approached cautiously, for the drone-to-rock ratio is about 10:1.
With "Brahma Weapons" as testament to their strength in rhythmic songcraft, C V L T S are making tantalizing efforts to say the least, but when working with their fundamentals they divulge equal tact. Among the most impressive is the somber "Freecasting", wherein a foreboding refrain trudges through a vapor of apparitional transmissions. Though an anomaly, the single's characteristically in tune with its surroundings. Sequenced or shapeless, Realiser feels at ease with either.
[C V L T S Website]
[Stream/Buy Realiser from Aguirre]
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