Insight & Critique
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

The Cartographer - The Nebula Chapters

9/29/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
The Cartographer

The Nebula Chapters
self-released; 2015

3.3 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

Ben Ludford-Brooks aka The Cartographer recently released his debut EP entitled The Nebula Chapters. Brooks has a background in classical guitar but not much of that shows up on this release. The Nebula Chapters combines heavy guitar riffs with atmosphere that is reminiscent of a band like Deafheaven. There are elements of metal, post-rock and some other sub genres but it isn’t too far off from the hybrid that a myriad of other bands are barking up.

The EP opens with “Expanse I: Origin.” You are presented with a steady, straightforward drumbeat and atmospheric guitars that lie somewhere between early Mogwai and Explosions In The Sky. When the song gets heavy it’s not all that surprising and touts distorted guitars and more crash cymbal. The song’s best moments are towards the end where it gets sludgy and mimics System of a Down.

The second track “Expanse II: Awakening” sounds almost identical to the first track in a number of ways. In fact it could have easily just been one track. The atmospheric picking and hard- hitting riffs are interchangeable.

“Void I: What We Left Behind” shows a bit more deviation but still follows the predictable soft/loud formula. Some of the soft sections were a little too soft and when the loud sections came in it was almost startling. Better use of compression or volume automation would have helped this out. He closes with “Void II: The Final Star” which is more less an extension of “Void I: What We Left Behind.”

After ingesting the four-song EP a couple of times I think Brooks could have easily just made this one track. There really isn’t enough distinction between the tracks to justify the separation.

Brooks is a technically proficient guitarist but hasn’t quite figured out how to explore the areas between loud and soft with this style of music. There are a lot of bands out there doing something similar right now and unless Brooks get himself a human drummer and other players to explore dynamics with he is going to have a tough road ahead with steep competition. As I mentioned previously Brooks is a classical guitarist and releasing another EP featuring acoustic guitar. I enjoyed The Nebula Chapters but I am looking forward to an EP that builds upon his strengths as a classical guitarist.
bandcamp
official website
Tweet
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by divideanconqer
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
Book Your Band

© Divide and Conquer 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact