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ReviewsYears/Ventoux split disc has two dark--yet different--ambient styles rolled into one Date published: 11/13/2008
BY KURT VINNEDGE Magic Bullet's Years/Ventoux album is the beauty of two different bands meshed into one. The split album features Years ("A Shift in Moods") and Ventoux ("The Inferno of the Living"). The bands meld seamlessly, creating a musical journey into the minds of Ryan Parish and Graham Scala--respectively, the creative forces of the two bands. The album opens with Years' "To Our Friendship," an 11-minute symphonic composition. Parish, the mind behind Years, is also the drummer for Darkest Hour and City of Caterpillar, and his musical experience shines through on "A Shift in Moods." Years features melodic songs filled with natural and electronic sounds, forming an almost Zen-like experience with calming and soothing harmony. Slower and longer, Years still manages to make "A Shift in Moods" interesting and fun. This is the type of music that can inspire--not with words or solos, but with pure sound. The three tracks are completely connected, each song flowing into the next. Together, the Years songs convey a feeling of completion--yet this is followed by a completely different band. That band is Ventoux, and the album is "The Inferno of the Living." In contrast to Years, Ventoux presents a more sinister sound throughout. Featuring four shorter songs and no lyrics (unlike Years), Ventoux brings in a more mechanical-sounding music, with dark undertones and eerie noise. The album's name fits the music perfectly, as most of the songs include images of dark cities and dead fields. The two bands complement each other perfectly, adding to each other by contrast as well as similarity. This is a definite buy for anyone who enjoys ambient music and deliciously dark sound. Kurt Vinnedge is a junior at Stafford High School.
1. Be respectful. No personal attacks.
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