T: Epistrophobia (PROGRESSIVE ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

One year after the excellent "Fragmentropy", the German multi-instrumentalist Thomas Thielen, better known under the pseudonymous skeleton of T, is back with a new album entitled "Epistrophobia".

Does T have obsessive manias? In any case, it is clear that he has recurrent shortcomings, starting with the strange titles that he gives to his albums: "Psychoanorexia", "Fragmentropy", "Epistrophobia", so many terms that do not appear in the dictionary but whose meaning is generally imagined. A sinister and anguishing meaning, just like the works they cover. For the soundscapes that T invites us to explore are often gloomy and desperate, when they are not chaotic.

The fans of the two previous opuses will not be disappointed and will find what is now a clearly identifiable style: compositions that are often long (five exceed twelve minutes on this album!) with incessant changes of theme, dark and anxiety-provoking but most often melodious. This doesn't prevent the artist from letting himself go to brutal bursts of violence (the first part of 'What If Not' is particularly breathtaking) or, on the contrary, to an atmospheric minimalism.

Several things are remarkable about T. First of all, the care he takes with contrasts. Too few artists nuance their music, sacrificing to the fashion for "fast and loud". Then the orchestral character of his music, giving more the impression of dealing with a group than with a single man, as comfortable on guitar as on keyboards, on drums as on bass, even on sax... Finally a sensitivity all in delicacy which makes come the emotion during the numerous poignant passages which enamel the album (as a climax, the tribute to David Bowie at the fifth minute of 'What If Not', the time of a few bars seeming to come out of "Blackstar", the words 'black star' being sung a few seconds later).

"Epistrophobia" continues the concept started on "Fragmentropy" as indicated by chapters 4, 5 and 6 which complete the first three chapters of the previous album. If it is indeed the continuation, the melodies of this new album are more obvious than those of its predecessor, requiring less listening to apprehend them. From there to say that they are simple... Once again, T manages to seduce us and to carry us away in his world of desolation... for our greatest happiness. - Official website

T

EPISTROPHOBIA

PROGRESSIVE PROMOTION

PROGRESSIVE ROCK