Poems Of An Extinct Species
Aenaos, 2021
9/10
Listen to Poems Of An Extinct Species
The brainchild of the German film composer Jan Weber, as Art Noir he returns a decade after his last album, Silent Green, and, very unfortunately, an ALS diagnosis that slowly decreased his muscle movement. As a result, he had to complete this album with an assistive eye tracking communication device, and he also reeled in Thomas Navas (Lost In The Void) and Stefan Vesper (Steve Dragon, In Strict Confidence) for mastering, mixing and production.
“Gloomy Sunday” starts the listen with a very unique approach to electro-pop ideas, where pretty female vocals from Nadine Stelzer and playful instrumentation reside closer to dreamy than gloomy, and “Shadows Of The Past” follows with a light buzzing as plenty of ambience unfolds with a sci-fi sort of delivery.
At the midpoint, “All They Left Behind” charges with a spacey, prog-rock introduction that bursts into a highly melodic display of modern pop prowess, while “Time And Eternity” enters a darker territory that’s a bit ethereal while embracing an industrial like presence. “The Imagined World”, one of the best tracks present, then pairs an ominous landscape with expressive singing that’s shrouded in both mystery and elegance.
Close to the end, “Thorns And Lilies” emits an intimate beauty as strong drumming complements the poetic climate, and “Moving Sky (Wasted Life Remix)” offers another version of an earlier track that is layered superbly here, and carries a cinematic demeanor amid much precise songwriting.
A very creative journey that addresses adaptive human-nature interrelationships through time and space in a time when technology has essentially become an extension of our bodies, Weber’s vision and execution is stimulating, thought provoking and, at times, vulnerable in a very compelling, fascinating and inspiring experience.
Travels well with: Uzul- Evolve; Julien Boudart- Nome Polycephale/Ancient And Modern Myths Vol. 1