Consumed with a modest
amount of herbal supplements
(as Al Cisernos and
Emile Amos likely intended),
Om's Advaitic
Songs is an expansive
mindfuck of an album. I
won't even bother printing
the bullshit I wrote on my
first go. In the clearheaded
light of day, their
follow-up to 2009's God is
Good displays an elegance
and musician's
touch that the band has
hinted at on previous releases, but never really hit until now. Advaitic
Songs is, without doubt, the finest work we've yet seen from
the experimental-drone duo, and it offers a wonderful listening experience
for fans of the genre and newcomers alike.
Om toyed with expanding their sound on God is Good by mixing
piano and classical strings with Al Cisernos' rumbling, groovy
basslines and Amos' hypnotic drumming. Advaitic Songs continues
this trend wonderfully, with tambura, piano and cello swirling
in and out of each of the album's five lengthy tunes. 'Addis', the
album's opener, throws in a sumptuous chant from a female singer
that conjures up dust storms and desert heat. As with any Om
album, the focus in Advaitic Songs is on creating a spiritual experience,
and songs like 'Addis' and the album's closer, 'Haqq al-
Yaqin', beautifully form a sense of mystical energy. Cisernos' lyrics
are obscure and shrouded in metaphor and Biblical language.
They're difficult to wrap your head around, but his delivery is a
spot-on half-whispered chant. Om has never sounded more in
control of whatever it is they're trying to conjure up with their music.
Advaitic Songs is barely a metal album in a lot of respects ('State
of Non-Return' is the heaviest song on the album, and even then
only for a moment), but there's a palpable weight to each song,
so calling it heavy wouldn't be an injustice.
Om's sound is likely not for every metal listener; songs are long,
spacey, and embrace spirituality in a very positive (and also very
broad) sense. It's my bet that if your music collection begins and
ends with Darkthrone, you're not gonna dig this. But fans of Om's
previous work, experimental metal fans, and armies of stoners and
psychedelia lovers will think this is great. It's a deeply pleasant
and tangible listening experience. It's also Om's best work to date,
and it makes me genuinely anxious for the next offering from Cisneros
and Amos, if only to see how they might top themselves
here. (9/10)
Chris Wright
Band info: www.omvibratory.com
Label info: www.dragcity.com
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