Days To - Fractured Rooms

Days To

Fractured Rooms
self-released; 2016

4.1 out of 5 - TOP ALBUM

By Matt Jensen
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Fractured Rooms by what can only be called a musical project from Days To is a sprawling feat that is incredibly ambitious and pays off. Oskari Kuusela is the mastermind behind this project who wrote the songs, played most if not all of the instruments and also did the production. The thing that separates this album is the amount of contributors which includes Mick Amato, Bromley, Andy Croft, Justina Gervyte, Oli Hanney, David Indge, Ben Layne, Jessica Le Fay Marie, Chad Mason, Shane O'Linski, Joe Quinn and Richard Ringer. Most of the contributors are in fact vocalists which adds the diversity you might expect from a compilation album which in a lot of ways is what this feels like. 

At eighteen songs Fractured Rooms is a hefty listen but it never feels arduous. The songwriting, production and delivery throughout the album is exceptional. There were of course some favorites I had along the way but I have to admit I was surprised at how consistent the quality of the songs were. 

Most of these songs are melodic, uniquely catchy and immediately enjoyable. Take for instance the opener “Two Books” which is features a female vocalist. Unique spacey synths rise up over the melodic guitar picking as slightly melancholy overtones weave throughout the song. 

There is certainly some diversity as the album progresses but nothing too out of left field. “Their Words”  does some sufficient rocking out while the melodic “I Was Once a Bird” contains beautiful guitar work.

This is an album that I can see appealing to a large demographic but the highlights will be arguable. I think a lot of it will come down to the vocalist as the music is top notch on every track. You may prefer the interlacing vocal harmonies on “Blue Thread”  or the more melancholy vocals you hear on a song like “Abstract Land.”

Fractured Rooms took about a year to complete and I can imagine it also felt like a long process. This was not sloppily thrown together. There are eighteen well-crafted songs with nuances and complexity that ooze talent. Fractured Rooms is very impressive from beginning to end and a testament to what you can do with some dedication to your craft.

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