After a stunning stretch of remarkable records, the Australian duo ventured on-wards one last time before parting ways. Fortunately they would reunite nineteen years later with the well polished Anastasis. Spiritchaser is the last album I'd yet to hear, a critically well received departure I find myself indifferent too. Remaining within the tapestry of Worldbeat aesthetics, they seem to take a new approach to song writing.
Gone are the emotive swells, gallant melodies and esoteric leanings. Instead, a focus on plain, steady tones. Allowing for simplistic instrumental notation and brief percussive grooves to drone in repetition on top of foundations. Its subdued, simplistic and supposedly aims to find a meditative atmosphere in unclutter compositions.
So to do vocal performances feel restrained, intentionally softened. The cultural roots of fresh singing avenues possibly explain why. With dialectic inflections and native languages I'd not heard prior, the pair appear to aim for a less dramatized tone and certainly achieves that. In the apt setting, it becomes soothing background music.
I've been critical, Spiritchaser is simply a different beast, lingering in the shadows of a luminosity that came before it. The record does little to offend. Its sensibilities are calm, gentle and drift upon lazy tempos on lengthy durations. Highlights reside later on, with The Snake And The Moon offering a beautiful campfire at night vibe fit for tribal chant and dance. Perry leads the first half, Gerrad the second, shifting energies.
The following Song Of The Nile plays deeply cultural and subdued but houses the albums most animated passage as bells chime and some exotic sitar alike instrument offers up a brief but striking swell of musicality. However the rest of the record failed to make much of an impression on me. Maybe more time would strengthen bonds.
Rating: 5/10