A Zen Paradox is also known as a "koan," a riddle which has no answer,
intended rather to inspire contemplation. The most famous example of this
form is the well-known phrase, "What is the sound of one hand clapping?"
(As a trivial exercise, slap the ends of the fingers into the base of the
thumb as a response). What may not be so well known is the derivation of
the title of this latest release from Steve Law, fully nine years after the
release of "Catharsis," the last full-length Zen Paradox album. The word
was used by Rudolph Otto to describe the experiential perception of the
numinous - the supernatural, or more specifically, the transcendentally
elevating. This is not music for meditation, however - the jarring
electronic bleating of "Re-Entry" that opens the album is meant to provoke,
not to soothe, and most of the tracks have energetic rhythms at their core,
although some, such as the aptly-named "The Opaque Stillness," could perhaps
provide the backdrop for controlled breathing exercises.
Given the long
gestation period for this project (parts of "Dead Zone" predate the release
of Chrysalis and several pieces were composed in the last century) the wide
range of tempos and styles in not surprising. What is unexpected is how
well they integrate to form a fluidly cohesive whole that while not overtly
satori-inducing are nonetheless provocative of reflection. The song titles
themselves provide further evidence that higher brain function will be
required for full absorption: "Aedeagus." "Hematite." "Mycalesis
Perseus." "Rhizobium." (This last separated from "Symbiotic Transfer" by
"Robofunk," a sly testament to the composer's sense of humor, see
"Aedeagus" for further confirmation). Musically, the album is a
collection of glitchy, mostly mid-tempo electronica, sometimes bordering on
the organic, but more frequently mechanical or at the very least
mechanistic.
It is perhaps cliché to describe music of this sort science
fiction-esque, but there's a ring of truth to that label that can't be
denied, especially given the choice of song and album titles - if this
isn't music for nerds, nothing is. Allowing that song is yet another form
of storytelling, Numinusom surely has a place alongside Clarke and Gibson,
Asimov and Dick, or more likely, the lyrical razor wielded by the
inimitable Ray Bradbury. If a tree falls in the forest, will it make a
sound of thunder?
