Setting the tone with a timeless guitar performance, evoking a sense of familiarity and fused with an astral frequency, The Laconic opens Amor Fati with the track, Fate. The opus expands with performance dimensionality, percussive detailing and cerebral nuance to create an almost meditative sonic experience allowing us to connect deeply with ourselves and the composer.
A flute protagonist adds charisma to the piece, resulting in an optimistic energy with reference to the name of the track, it inspires us to remember to trust the universe. Keys and a cerebral synth complete the cohesive tapestry of sound and build towards an anthemic crescendo, needless to say, we are mesmerized.
We then experience a meditative moment with minimalist glistening vibe, before 80s drum riffs and an industrial energy reconstruct the soundscape, giving into a darker and more dramatic edge with a fierce electric guitar solo. The opener truly showcases the versatility of the creator.
Speaking on his art, The Laconic confesses, “Amor Fati is my second attempt to produce an album of songs without words: instrumentals that do not rely on (but do not reject) virtuosity and flashy technical displays to maintain interest, but instead hold the listener’s attention through the composition, arrangement, instrumentation, and effects, which allows for a greater range of emotion.”
Next up is Nona which opens with an electronica-hybrid energy, rippling drums and a glitch-pop vibe with bells detailing. This is followed by Saber, which kicks off with a memorable piano performance and an equally dramatic energy with rock drums. The composition is playful and dynamic, perfect for a Hollywood movie score. The theatrical keys really add value and take us on a wild and emotive journey.
Decima is the next composition, which takes on a more ethnic mood to open with an industrial bassline which gives off a fierce and universal energy. The panning details in the sound design make the track feel all the more expansive. This is followed by Dust which delivers a wild west feel and an iconic cello performance. Arpeggiated keys add to the already immersive energy and the guitar performance is an emotional staple within the composition. The Eastern strings arrangement is simply out of this world, and we are truly in awe.
Morta takes on a more textured design with cosmic frequencies and high octane percussion performance. We love the moody vibe, and the presence of the guitar. Next is Mirror, which from the outset feels reflective from the synthscape alone. Full of poetic nuance, we are taken on a bright and astral journey with the composer.
We learn that Amor Fati features a range of guest musicians, all of whom are highly-regarded for their own musical careers to date. Gary Husband performs keyboards, Juan Dahmen plays drums and percussion, whilst Aralee Dorough shares an exquisite flute performance. In addition, Tim Gardner plays touch guitar, Christina Ruf plays cello and electric cello, and Erik Emil Eskildsen delivers additional guitar, whilst Colin Gatwood is on the English horn, and Scott Pelath shares his skill on the guitar.
Refuge opens with drama and intrigue, taking on a more subversive edge from what we have previously experienced. The track comes in at over eighteen minutes of cinematic drama and iconic performances. The expansive mood is tangible, and the entire journey of the track results in an almost out of body experience.
Finally, we experience Equinox which opens with a rising frequency and showcases instrumental mastery, especially the flute performance, and a fitting conclusion to the exceptionally refined record. All in all, we are infatuated with Amor Fati, and cannot wait to listen to the album over and over again. You can buy the record on BandCamp!