Cinnamon Chasers - A Million Miles from Home
by Lisa Torem
published: 27 / 6 / 2009
Label:
Modus Records
Format: CD
intro
Energetic, celestial-sounding electronica on debut album from Cinammon Chasers, the project of DJ Russ Davies, who is the son of Dave and nephew to Ray Davies from the Kinks
Just because Russ Davies is the son of Dave and nephew to Ray (founding members of the Kinks), doesn’t mean you should anticipate guitar chugs and fuzz bass. In his debut solo effort, 'A Million Miles From Home', Davies’ band, Cinnamon Chasers as the CD’s title suggests, attempts to surpass the status quo that inspired them and reach alternate vistas. Davies has “DJ’d” globally for the last four years investigating Japan’s experimental electronic festivals and warehouse parties in Russia. It’s not surprising that this album shows such range and breadth – Davies has an open and gifted approach to songwriting. That said, we all know that being “a million miles from home” has its joys and peril and that is what this 12 track project investigates. The film, 'Flight of The Navigator' was cited as another major influence and this wide-eyed wonder is evident in several tracks. 'Jetstreams' has a high- bobabillity quotient and it eases your central nervous system with the limbic lyric, “always in my dream.” 'Lux Deluxe' broaches blossoming, instrumental bliss. 'Modern Love' features edgy melodies that whittle their way through robotic utterance. 'Candle Lights' engages both voice and instrument in a bittersweet electronica chase. 'Adored' begins with a menacing thrash, then shifts into savy bleeps that bleed imaginatively – regaining their panache when explosive super novas collide. The vocal serenade in 'Wishing for the Fire' is like liquid glass – spellbinding and constantly shifting. 'The World is Yours' is steeped in minimalist motif. This crackerjack box of prizes contains layer after layer of revealing passages. A parade of discordant notes mingle with drums, then evaporate. When it all gets just too intergalactic and starry, 'Ray of Sun' appears – with its coarse cry for help – it’s a parfait of celestial dream and David Bowie pyrotechnics. 'Your Heart Doesn’t Open Anymore' belies the thumping bass, but impassions scrumptious, pulsating, baroque-tinged vocals. 'Ultraviolent' is like a Rubik’s Cube – it is equipped with mysterious imaginings that juxtapose fragments of lucidity. The penultimate 'White Flag' with its percussive hijinks strokes the soul as legato skips hobble randomly and suddenly you’re engaged in a brazen flurry. All in all, 'A Million Miles From Home' is a heart-felt single rose of steadfast beauty.
Track Listing:-
1 I Like Watching You2 Jetstreams
3 Wishing for the Fire
4 The World Is Yours
5 Candle Lights
6 Adored
7 Luv Deluxe
8 Modern Love
9 Ray of Sun
10 Ultraviolent
11 White Flag
12 Your Heart Isn't Open Anymore
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