After two years of experimentation and intense exploration, the artcollective known as Cerberus Shoal are finally prepared to unleash anew sound on the unsuspecting populace. The fusion with Tarpigh nowdefunct, the Shoal have been working with different artists on theirsplit EP series, seemingly searching for the right meld of identitieswith which to continue. Though those EPs showed some impressive, whileconvoluted, structures, this is where the real meat is. Chaiming the Knoblessoneis Cerberus Shoal at their most stunning, most ethereal, mosttheatrical, and most confused; and all of that has never sounded socarefully planned. It's a brand new language almost, or an originaltake on storytelling, melding equal parts rock, jazz, folk, and MiddleEastern music into a new type of spiritual. These are the songs of atribe of modern minstrels, detailing the woe and glory of a people whohad no hope but still strived. Perhaps it's a musical oral history,with a little bit of dramatic infusion and random leanings. With fivetracks over the eleven minute mark, Chaiming is also like anight at the opera of the human mind, with longer movements making wayfor grand exploits to taint your dreams and synapses. "Apatrides"starts with low chants and "oohs" that build to a chorus of madmenchanting random thoughts about "river skins" and "shadow-bentreveries." Suddenly, the twisted sounds of trumpets and accordionsannounce the arrival of a brain dance, where psychoses and neurosesmingle and mate with abandon. It departs just as suddenly, as theelectron thought bursts of "Mrs. Shakespeare Torso" arrive, whichdissolve into sweet voices, more accordion, and warped scales onstringed instruments. The climax of Act One, though, "Sole of Foot ofMan," is the most pure approach of all, with acoustic guitar strums,swirls of electric instruments, and strained male vocals joined byghostly female harmony. It has hints of every era of Cerberus Shoalwith the flavorings of the future, and is a beautiful and bravearrangement. The intermission of "A Paranoid Home Companion" isfrightening with its helium computer voice and trial of views that doesnot fully impress as a song, but as a scene it is fantastic. Act Twosoars above it all, with "Ouch" continuing with the madman chorus andthe ghostly harmony, but relying more on stringed instruments andstructured percussion. The struggle explodes at the end of the track,and then the aftermath is detailed in calmer tones and occasionalbursts of singing for the remainder of the album. As music, this is adifficult piece, as these compositions are jarring and loose, notadhering to any structure; plus it must be listened to in its entiretyto be appreciated. But as a piece of theatre, this is bold stuff,capable of changing whole landscapes with its power. Cerberus Shoalhave found a new direction worth pursuing, and anyone along for theride is guaranteed to have a frighteningly good time. Chaiming the Knoblessoneis available now on North East Indie's site and on September 2nd instores, when a second full-length will also be available on thewebsite.Read More
