Review Summary: An abrasive end to a trilogy...
The style similarities between
Euporie Tide and
Return to Sky became justified now that Causa Sui revealed they are part of a trilogy. As with the
Summer or
Pewt’r Sessions, these affairs have their own atmosphere, ranging from light summery ditties to punchy rockers. A lot more focused, this latest collection might also be the most rewarding as well. We’ve been driven over spectacular peaks, then floated through cheerful oases, never being let down by the Danish quartet. The amazing chemistry between the members keeps them prolific plus interesting at the same time.
Although billed as a mini album, this final part called
Vibraciones Doradas has enough material to stand on its own like a full length LP. The 5 tracks definitely have several ties to previous epics yet the group inserted some surprises along the way. ‘El Fuego’ starts pretty straightforward with its groovy riffs and pounding drums, helped by a soaring guitar solo. Soon it falls into a krautrock segment where the bass mesmerizingly plays a circular, 3-note pattern, whereas the others smoothly embellish around it. They very slowly build tension, bursting in a number of urgent riffs, some of their heaviest so far. Meanwhile, ‘Seven Hills’ & ‘The Drop’ directly start loud. Both focus on power, delivering gritty hooks for minutes on end. The former takes cues from acid rock, maintaining a linear structure, subtly changing notes while adding wah-soaked solos amid oscillating sound scapes. The latter channels old school Colour Haze into the band’s own universe. The fat, fuzzy leads burn bright over aggressive drumming until the last 90 seconds when they all dissipate, leaving lush chords and keys to beautifully lift you up into the clouds. To be honest, I wish the coda lasted longer, because it is gorgeous. Moreover, the title track enters doom territory through its slow, muddy riffage. This is something you wouldn’t expect from Causa Sui, especially after the last couple of records. It’s like you’re being dragged in the dirt, miles away from the sunny beaches you used to relax on. Halfway, the moody setting lightens up a bit, revealing picked chords and cool deep bass lines which harmoniously interact. The noisy finale is augmented by some chunky low end notes that make you wonder if this is actually the same band playing or not.
Overall,
Vibraciones Doradas isn’t your usual Causa Sui album. This is a hard rocking version of theirs that puts an interesting (to say at the very least) end to this sonic trilogy. After the substantially lighter
Return to Sky, I was not expecting them to make this decision. Still, it’s a fun listen that puts their strengths into perspective. Is this the direction they wish to head into or was it just an experiment? It’s great to see them pushing themselves again out of their comfort zone. Even though I wanted more of those calm, melodic parts, I am happy I received the opposite.
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