Review Summary: The most challenging electronic album of the year has surfaced.
By reading my summary, you'd expect me to have a lot to say about this album; and while I do, it's hard to express my thoughts as to why I enjoy this so much on the sole fact that I've never heard anything like this before. Orange Milk records is a label located in Dayton, Ohio. Since 2011, they have been releasing experimental and electronic music that has pushed the boundaries of what the genre has to offer, with artists such as Giant Claw creating ambient and dark synthesized sounds that showcase just the tip of the iceberg of what Orange Milk has to offer.
Now we come to CVN, a rather mysterious artist in his own right that goes by the name of Nobuyuki Sakuma. He is also a member of the ambient duo of Jesse ruins with his partner, NAH. During his time in the group he's created avant-garde sounds and textures that emmit a foreboding, moody atmosphere which carries on to his work as CVN. 'Matters', is a work of high concentration and forward thinking, displaying classical, noise, Musique concrète, and even IDM in tracks like 'Youth Slaughter'. It carries a harsh and dissonant tone but also being stiff and unnatural which leaves you thinking "what the hell did I just listen to?" once you get past the fact that it is a roller coaster of uneasiness, you start to really appreciate the subtle abstract tones layered through each track. It really is a beautiful harmony of sounds colliding together to create an arranged hale that mystifies you with every listen. The piano that is played on the album is used as more of a foothold that supports the rest of the music as it layers over one another that starts with the opening track, 'First Distinction'. Every single track feels fresh and unique that never lets up. It really takes a keen ear to pick up all the little beeps and bloops that are in the background that makes you constantly focused on the music.
Overall, if you like music that is daring and original, look no further. I've never had an album like this that left me questioning on what you can do with electronic music. It is a very unique experience, and will probably be polarizing to most, but that's the beauty of being experimental with your music. It can most definitely turn some people off, but when you give it a chance you will thank yourself later, because you will leave feeling satisfied on what you will find, just as I have with this album.
