Release date – 9th September
Label - Season of Mist
Words - Venny
CBP mastermind Justin Greaves is back with his latest offering. Following up from 2020’s critically lauded Ellengæst, comes Banefyre, old English for Bonfire. Noticeably less succinct and more expansively ethereal than the last album, Banefyre could be an intimidating proposition for the uninitiated with a runtime well over an hour and four tracks lasting over 10 minutes.
Akin to the 2000’s trends of Norwegian ‘slow television’, where viewers are invited to absorb themselves in an entire train journey through the Scandinavian countryside, this latest CBP album encourages listeners to become entirely immersed in their darkly alluring journey. For those aforementioned uninitiated, CBP are wantonly difficult to categorise; but include elements of prog, post-rock, classic rock, post-punk, and more extreme subgenres. Greaves has assembled and reassembled another array of talent to support his expansive song writing; the hauntingly seductive vocal performance of Belinda Kordic again complements the dark canvas wonderfully, echoing Bjork and Julie Christmas, with crystalline delicateness breaking into heavier and harsher climaxes. Kordic is joined by fellow Swede Joel Segerstedt, whose post-punk gothic vocal complements Kordic on duet exchanges. As usual, the progressive bent includes all manner of instrumentation, strings, synth, choral backing, and notably a beautiful brass section on the 14 minute post-everything excursion Rose of Jericho.
Critics may cite the length and slightly one-paced nature of the album, but this detracts from the central tenet; a broad canvas of progressiveness and darkness, the beauty of which comes from the slow reveal of its majesty over repeated listens. Diversity is present, tracks like the sample-laden Blackout 77 (containing the most sumptuous fuzzed up guitar line), and the noticeably short, sharp heaviness of No Regrets. Kurt Ballou’s mix roughens the edges nicely. CBP alumni have recently released an excellent debut in the Venus Principles Stand in your Light, but Greaves once again provides the additional dimensions and intangibles that set CBP apart. Welcome back to CBPs darkly unjust world where cracks of light offer a tantalising glimpse of spellbinding beauty.
8/10
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