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Cynic: Carbon-Based Anatomy (EP)

Avant Garde/Progressive Rock

4.0/5.0

Seasons of Mist Records
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by Craig Hartranft,  10.31.2011

Cynic's Carbon-Based Anatomy might surprise you. But if you've followed their career since their 2008 come back accomplishment Traced In Air, you're likely not surprised at all. Their evolution is equivalent to that of Opeth, different and unsuspected, but only over a longer period of time. One thing you can conclude about Carbon-Based Anatomy is that there should be more. This EP offer six at about 23 minutes, but the reality is that three tracks Amidst the Goals, Bija!, and Hieroglyph, while spooky and instrumentally minimalist, appear only as intro, segue, and outro, respectively.

Above, Cynic: looking resolved, and possibly wanting a tan, at the foot of the fountain.

Most intriguing is the combination of Box Up My Bones and Elves Beam Out (great title!), which slide together in seamless division. The former offers that characteristic and challenging Cynic drumming within some fusion of Pink Floyd meets Mused filtered through King Crimson. Best track. The latter offers a quirky bass line that, with the drums and versatile chordage, for lack of a better adjective, brings a strange 'springy' sound. Eclecticism has always been one of Cynic's stronger suits. These two songs round out with a very heavy, but airy and ethereal, conclusion.

Again, Cynic continues to surprise and please with Carbon-Based Anatomy. However, while intriguing and entertaining, they leave you wanting, or at the very least, suspecting that there should be more. Is this by design? Perhaps a marketing ploy in advance of their next album. God forbid. A band this good should not leave their fans in this musical lurch. Otherwise, quite recommended.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

Again, Cynic continues to surprise and please with Carbon-Based Anatomy. However, while intriguing and entertaining, they leave you wanting, or at the very least, suspecting that there should be more.

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The Powell Payne project, created in 2022 is the collaboration of Mark "Penfold Powell (ex-drummer of Psycho Kiss) and Adam Payne (former vocalist of Airrace). With guitarist Adam Davies and keyboard player ... [ Read More ]