Review Summary: An ambient, atmospheric voyage into the hidden depths of space.
If I were to use only one word to perfectly describe
Casualties of Cool, it would be beautiful. The long-awaited collaboration between Devin Townsend and Ché Aimee Dorval has been described by the Canadian musician as “haunted Johnny Cash songs… late night music, completely isolated sounding”. The album builds an ethereal atmosphere, best displayed on highlight “Flight”, which carries a spacey sound boosted by Ché’s soaring vocals, which serve as a guiding light in the void of black. The track’s beauty is formed not only through Dorval’s majestic voice, but also through the airy atmosphere that takes listeners to an unknown place of shadow. A foreboding darkness surrounds the album, created by its minimalistic blend of gloomy ambiance, blues and country. On tracks like “The Code” and “Pure”, the use of twangy guitar adds an element of earthliness, bringing listeners out of the dark only to thrust them right back in it with the imminent quiet soundscape.
Casualties of Cool tells the story of a traveler drawn to a newfound planet that thrives on its fear, and its atmosphere perfectly encapsulates that feeling. Every track, whether it’s the saxophone-laden “Moon” or the barren “Deathscope”, makes listeners feel like they are traveling through pitch-black space. The feeling of desolation and remoteness is amplified when Ché is the only vocalist amongst the ambient atmosphere – “Bones” paints the mental image of a guiding light, with her beautiful voice showing the way through the darkness. The harmonization between the duo featured on tracks like “Mountaintop” perfectly showcase their chemistry; Devin’s low tenor and Ché’s soaring soprano were made to mix together in the way they so perfectly do. The darkness reaches a climax with the eight-minute long “The Bridge”, a penultimate track that builds up with a grandeur feel, complete with chanting and pounding instrumentals that represent the escape from the gloom. With each and every chant, the light shines brighter and brighter as the voyager’s soul is finally freed from captivity, bringing the madness to an end… for now.
Casualties of Cool is an album that feeds on darkness, taking listeners to a pitch-black corner of space with only Ché’s graceful voice, Devin’s haunting singing and the country-like feel of the guitars guiding the way through the void. For such an ambient, minimalistic record, the long-awaited collaboration sure does everything it can to trap listeners in an atmospheric universe, tethered by sound. Let it surround you and warp you to this parallel world of doom and gloom.
