Ikarus - Plasma - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

In Greek, plasma is defined as a malleable substance. It's what stars are made of. When lightning strikes, plasma is created. In essence, it's matter in a high energy state. Poetically speaking, however, it's something akin to nature's special effects, i. e., it's what makes beautiful, magical things transpire; whether it's the seemingly infinite spray of fire suspended out in space or the flickering, buzzing, multi-colored signs cluttering a narrow side-street in Hong Kong. On their fourth full-length record, Ikarus turns their attention towards what is officially considered the fourth state of matter, hence the title Plasma. Plasma marks a major shift for the band-away from the sonically InchimmersiveInch and towards an almost tactile, physical quality of sound the type that is associated with functional electronica. This is also Ikarus at their most affecting, playful, and fluent. There's a lot of latent hope found in these compositions, and the turns are wild! Their rhythmic and harmonic equations are as complex as ever-on Altaelva the time signature changes from 7/4to 6/4 to 5/4 respectively-but their delivery is marked by a lightness and infused with a spectral gradient of emotion.