Search - Cloudland Canyon :: Requiems Der Nature 2002-2004 (Dig)

Gorgeously and incredibly f-cked

Aquarius Records | San Francisco | 09/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This record totally knocked us for a loop. And the thing is, I'm not entirely sure we can explain why. This is one of those rare records that is darn near indescribable. The label suggest Cloudland Canyon would appeal to fans of Boards of Canada, Animal Collective, The Dead C., Ash Ra Tempel, This Heat, Gong, most of which we can definitely see (maybe not the Boards Of Canada), there is a definitely a far out krautrock vibe, some classic long lost, extra damaged super freaked out sixties or seventies psychedelia, but filtered through modern technology. It's almost like some super computer a million years in the future began picking up these strange transmissions from the old Earth, German Oak, Faust, Amon Duul, but after traveling billions of miles and being interpreted by some alien machinery, those songs and sounds came out sounding, well, completely f-cking nuts!!!



It's like some sort of laptopped Dead C / Ash Ra mash up. Rich clouds of metallic shimmer surround looped guitars, creepy chanted vocals are submerged in demented spacey FX, dense deconstructed pop songs emerge from the chaos, rife with swirling vocals, and layer after layer of drone and processed harmonies, fuzzy shopping mall synth warbles beneath straining lo-fi vocals, the whole thing run through some intense stereo panning. Suddenly the band burst into some stomping propulsive psych rock jangle before the whole thing splinters into a gorgeous expanse of tranquil ambience, beneath delicately finger picked guitars, everything always within a cloud of mysterious sonic events.



Dense cinematic soundscapes of keening high end and minor key pizzicato strings melt into super fuzzed out classic rock jams, with horns and pulsing basslines, but buried in a dense swirl of My Bloody Valentine haze, with relentlessly squiggly riffing, buried vocals, a dizzying array of chaotic sound, tinkling chimes and little bits of percussion. Strange collages of warped warbly sound drift into weird seventies circusy prog with calliope like organ, moody riffing, and awesome male / female vocals, like some totally drug drenched unhinged Fleetwood Mac. Nearing the end of the sonic journey, the record devolves into huge stretches of squiggly analog synth, tangled and intertwined into fuzzy warped low end drones, squirming and buzzing with the different layers constantly shifting and slipping in and out and around each other. Woah. Gorgeously and incredibly f-cked. And thus completely recommended!!"

Modern krautrock, but not quite as good as their Silver Tong

Janet B. Willis | San Diego,CA | 10/25/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The great thing about krautrock was the diversity of styles within it that made it develop into it's own genre. Anyone who digs CAN, Amon Duul, cosmic Jokers,and countless others, or basically space rock and ambient with a tinge of jazz and psych will like this album. It's hard to explain without going out on and on and on, but it's perfect for putting on to space out to or just add to a quiet moment and get lost into. It's probably great to be stoned to, but I haven't heard it that way yet. I'd recommend their Silver Tongued Sisyphus EP first though, which is the reason for 4 out of 5 stars. Like most undefinable unique music, it might take some time to get into so give it a few spins at night and you might find it unravel into something worthy of attention."

Forest Music

Mr. Thistle | Salt Lake City, UT | 07/11/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is forest music. That is the undeniable of first impression when listening to the lulling hums, clicks and chirps that cape the songs on Requiem like a bug net. Wrapped inside, free from nagging annoyances, are the most perfect forest ragas packaged as perfect pop gems. Cloudland Canyon have hit the mark and while employing every buzz descriptor attributed to like minded compatriots Gang Gang Dance, Animal Collective and Black Dice; Cloudland Canyon come off impressively accessible while maintaining the organic experimentalism that made the previous bands successful. Now, please, if you do anything, don't write off Cloudland Canyon because of its bed buddies. Requiem is has a little bit of everything for anyone who asks wrangling in music enthusiasts from any spectrum to enjoy a sincere depth that can only make its listeners smile with satisfaction. Recommended for sustaining life."