Tall Vision-of-the-Voyage by Delmer Darion

One of the most interesting albums of the year, Tall Vision-of-the-Voyage defies categorization and takes a refreshing approach to experimental music. This ambitious record from alternative electronic artist Delmer Darion includes features from Anna B Savage, Kiran Leonard, Slaughter Beach, Dog, and more, each collaborator adding another layer to the album’s mythological narrative. With a sense of romantic tragedy, the album explores the tumultuous relationship between humans and nature, and the sometimes awe-inspiring, sometimes terrifying, reality of those environmental forces outside of our control.

Tall Vision-of-the-Voyage maps out a journey to new lands of creative innovation. Initially passing through a series of vignettes backed by buzzy shoegaze, waltzy anti-folk, and gritty industrial pop, the musical terrain in the first half of this record is diverse yet not entirely unfamiliar. However, as the fourth track fades away, the sound of waves lapping on the shore marks the beginning of the lolaire cycle. Over the course of the rest of the album, Delmer Darion tells the story of the sinking of the HMY Iolaire in 1919 through the lens of Authurian legend. Emotive cello performances form a foundation for actress Morfydd Clark’s spoken vocals, as she lends a dramatic, sorrowful flair to the poetic tale. Electronic flourishes add an embellishment that almost borders on dungeon synth, an appropriate sound for the saga of a young King Arthur, the Eagle of Gwern Abwy, and their search for a boy taken by the sea.

It was an unusual choice to split this album into two distinct halves. Listening to this record feels like the sensation of remembering a strange dream from last night’s sleep, and not being able to tell if it was all one long, meandering storyline, or if two separate dreams occurred. Despite the obvious sonic divergence, the transition from moody psychedelic post-rock and cello-driven synth pop into the beautifully produced Iolaire poems feels strangely organic. With its archaic language, Tall Vision-of-the-Voyage is grounded in the very origin of music and storytelling through the oral tradition of epic poems. This album subverts the Arthurian legend to tell a modern fable, presenting a new mythology that feels familiar to those of us today who are faced with the fallout of natural disasters and climate change. Uncertainty itself is a constant, yet Delmer Darion offers a soothing salve by turning to the past for a way forward.

- Kalen