The troubled entity Kasriel continues the burdensome search to seek answers on his considerable questions about loss, existence, comprehension and love. Waiting for centuries in the (metaphysical) halls of his mysterious castle (Inner Sanctum), his adventurous quest starts when the Melosinae (air spirits) dare him to commence this dangerous voyage. Guided and challenged by the Snawfuss, the seraph leaves, facing disappointment, struggle, wonder and oppugnance, as well as understanding, transcendence, even hope (Peregrinatio). Eventually he will arrive at the walls that surround the ice castle, where answers and faith might rest (The Encompassing Realm Of Space & Time).
Until he will fight his way through the portals of this nearly impassable stronghold, it is time for a moment of reflection. Thoughts about sense and desire, the remembrance of warmth and passion, nostalgic, romantic, divine and filled with quiet hope; these memories return with purpose. An intense moment of both self-reflection and melancholia result in a brief momentum where the shadows of tragedy are no longer consumed by torment. Slowly, the light finds him again, and he stands nearer to the truth than ever before.
Reverie, this new effort by the Kasriel project, focuses on this intermezzo during the expedition towards that aforementioned new dimension. The EP (four compositions with a total running time of just over twenty minutes) was written, produced and mixed by the sympathetic Argentinian Leandro ‘Ăνδρος’ Pendino, and the result was mastered at the Buenos Aires based Arcaneum Studio by The Mighty Sorcerer. The very nice artwork is done by Nicolás Insaurralde in his very characteristic dark fairylike style.
So, Reverie opens with Nostalghia, which immediately surprises for it slightly differs from the former Kasriel recordings. Instead of doomed, rather rough and bombastic textures, one might experience a softly illuminated, dreamy and gentle approach. It is still adventurous, yet from a more tender point of experience. Moony melodies create a chimerical atmosphere, where visions of romance and preservation reside. Yet somehow, a hint of tristesse surrounds the whole commodity, despite the semi-blithe execution. The track, by the way, is sort of divided into three ‘chapters’, with a hint of martial, even neo-classical orchestration towards the end, cf. the rather orchestral synths and additional drum-like patterns. Isjungfruns Theme continues this path of comfortable elegance, with multiple lines of mesmeric melodicism. The addition of gothic sound-sculpting and semi-Gregorian choirs at the background in the beginning adds a level of mystery, mysticism and enigma. The semi-acoustic integrity that follows reflects introspection, grief, as well as expectation; expectation for accretion, for expanse, for (mental) evolution. Here too, the martial-like drums characterize a militant attitude. Lullaby - Ballade Des Amoreux comes with piano-lead performing in the first place. It returns towards integrity, self-reflection, vehemence and cupidity. The medieval-like approach gets fortified through the abundant symphonic textures and the belligerent drums and percussion sampling. Step by step, this mini-album seems to expand, to develop its intrinsic purpose. August Serenade, eventually, is the shortest piece (02:29; the three other compositions last for about six minutes each), and returns towards integrity, yet not from the most sad or depressive kind (at all). It’s rather melancholic, with a hint of nostalgic bliss, if you want to, and an excellent introduction to the next chapter: the inner reflection of the protagonist’s quest before invading the next, unknown dimension of (t)his quest…
...expect the sequel soon...
https://kasriel.bandcamp.com/album/reverie
https://www.concreteweb.be/reviews/kasriel-snawfuss
https://www.concreteweb.be/reviews/kasriel
https://kasriel.bandcamp.com/album/the-encompassing-realm-of-space-time
https://kasriel.bandcamp.com/album/peregrinatio
https://kasriel.bandcamp.com/album/inner-sanctum
www.instagram.com/nikkoinsaurralde.art