Mysteries' latest comes from The Spiral, whose debut release, Orange Sunshine, is a strange, cosmic unfolding, or a glimpse into another dimension that takes its influence from being, in fact, under the influence. The Spiral is a new project from Oliver Chapoy (formerly Certain Creatures), and the album is a sonic representation of a LSD-infused journey. The Spiral aims to capture not only a certain sound but a mood, as inspired by Chapoy’s own psychedelic wanderings in the mountains of Japan. The opening track, “Two Drops,” takes us down the proverbial rabbit hole, and we get the sense that we’re about to be transported to another world entirely. The tracks “Redshift” and “Blueshift” continue the transmutation and—nearing ten minutes each—are mini journeys in themselves. Frequency modulations and whirring oscillations make everything sound and feel wobbly. Similar to the come-up stage of a trip, there’s a sense we’re about to break through. By the time Orange Sunshine reaches its literal peak in “Moon over Minakami” we feel as if we’ve arrived in the center; this is very much the focal point of the album. This track is epic and euphoric, and is tied to a specific memory in Minakami. Chapoy says of his intentions with the album, "Much of this record is a sonic reinterpretation of my experience in Japan as an escape after such a tumultuous year."
Chapoy is a master of playing with the spatial qualities of soundscape, and at times sounds appear in one ear and retreat to the other, which adds to the visceral sensory experience and strengthens the conceptual aspect. At its core, Orange Sunshine is an intentionally disorienting collection of collaged arrangements that work cohesively, and to mesmerizing effect. The ending too is a gorgeous dissolving of textures, like energy being dispersed over the infinite. As signaled by its name, so much of this album is what you’d expect: trippy, transportive, adventurous, densely packed, and highly immersive. However like all hallucinogenic voyages, so much of it is unexpected: Orange Sunshine truly surprises. Chapoy has found a distinct voice with The Spiral, and this debut shows he is an artist finding himself and his sound, ironically, by creating a world we can easily get lost in.
Written, Produced, and Mixed by Oliver Chapoy at Ohm Sweet Ohm, Brooklyn, NY
Mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri at Black Knoll Studio, NY
Design by Gabriel Benzur
Words by Taylor Bratches
℗ 2021 Ohm Sweet Ohm (ASCAP)
Worldwide Distribution: wordandsound → what people play
© Mysteries of the Deep
MOTDLP011, 2021
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