Caesura is a very listenable production, with consistent compositions and solid mastering; several familiar classical and acoustic sounds are infused all around.
A series of relaxing and thoughtful pauses
The word “caesura” means, “any interruption or break” (Wikipedia 2024). In the case of Rena Jones’ & KiloWatts’ album, Caesura, the break likely means time set aside to listen to the album. This one demonstrates a considerable amount of artfulness and is worth listening to closely.
The track, “Marmalade Sunrise,” opens with a piano and other acoustic instruments. The piano part resembles a modern pulse. An ethereal female voice, presumably of Meryl Joan Lammers, is added. Her voice is very lovely, being somehow both human and angelic sounding. The track, further along, becomes more deliberate, and a definite descending chord pattern is established. As the piece develops, Lammers’ voice interacts beautifully with various guitar tones and phrases.
“Time Immemorial” sounds like a gradual march. It proceeds at a walking pace. With brass phrases to set a chord progression, bells, guitar and other acoustic sounds are added. The track has the tone of a Goth-tinged neoclassical work. Progressions develop to become almost mystically circular. The song paces along like the impossible angles on an Escher staircase. With its held trumpet tones, “Time Immemorial” is mindful of early renaissance music. Synth percolations accompany downward-stepping chords. The piece becomes open, airy and full of chime sounds as it moves towards its conclusion.
With “Betwixt and Between,“ the track opens with ambient pads. Ethereal, fluttering sounds are reinforced with very nice brass lines. A pulsing bass begins, and the drifting female voice is added. After a short break, a melodic flute line evokes music from the Far East. Various acoustic tones weave across one another, hovering over drone textures. The piece continues and concludes, a tonal reverie with Eastern qualities.
Overall, Caesura is a very listenable production, with consistent compositions and solid mastering; several familiar classical and acoustic sounds are infused all around. Pieces are composed via neo classical grooves tinged with a slight gothic darkness. Chords step down, or rather wind down long, circular tonal staircases, in an album that provides a listener a series of relaxing and thoughtful pauses.
Caesura is available on Cartesian Binary. [Bandcamp]
