“Chrysalis” by Carolyn Fok
Album Review by New Age CD and New Age Notes Radio Staff
Imagine the formative creation of the early universe, whether from nothingness or Spirit. Then juxtapose this creative chaos with the equally transformative aspects of how and where human life began or begins, and pair that with the states of constant transformation that everything is always in, and there you have “Chrysalis.”
Beautifully ambient and mesmerizing, yet cinematically awesome at the same time, here in her new 12-track album, Carolyn Fok explores the parallels between the concept of the birth of life in the universe with her own human journey here on Earth. Here we have a degree of vulnerability along with musical precision, as well as rich and interesting electronic textures and sounds, making this an immersive and deeply engaging journey through the cosmos.
Carolyn is an Asian American award-winning electronic musician and sound designer whose work spans over five decades. Her early inspiration came from UK electronic artists such as Cabaret Voltaire and The Human League. Under the alias CYRNAI, she began issuing solo records in the mid-80s while still in her teens, a period that also saw her playing in the San Francisco-based acts A State Of Mind, Trial, and Rhythm & Noise.
The album opens with the truly beautiful “The Moment That Made A Universe,” which effortlessly draws us into the hypnotic mystique. Expansive and atmospheric, this is thoroughly relaxing and effectively captures the entire nature of the album.
Following is the captivating “Origin in Silence.” Very cool electronic elements make this super interesting. We can feel ourselves transported in space and time. Very good!
The seat of creation, “A Cradle of Chaos,” is engrossing and again transportive. The alluring synths are deeply meditative and mysterious, and this is really quite brilliant in terms of musical artistry. Here, I’m going to tell you that for the whole experience, you’re going to want to get the entire album, not just one or two tracks, because this is definitely an experience by one of the masters of this genre.
While we can’t address every track here, some other highlights include: “Designing For Beauty” is wonderfully engaging and we again have that feeling of being in a whole other time and space. It’s a great escape. Very womblike, yet gloriously cinematic, “Voice Within Mother” gives us the same feeling as does “Waiting In Celestial Wombs.” There is much to love and appreciate here. Deep mysteries combine beautifully with earthly realities. As I said, musically brilliant.
We are probably always communicating in some way even before we are even really “here.” “Telepathic Dreamland” perfectly illustrates this concept. I love all the rich textures and the flowing nature of “thought.”
There are so many interesting soundscapes in “Coming To Light,” that we can’t help but remain captivated. In “Near Time,” we are floating, but definitely getting ready to be born.
This amazing album winds up with “Clock Hands the Arrival.” Through its driving and rhythmic beat and esoteric, otherworldly sounds, we realize fully and finally that here we are. We’ve arrived. Lovers of ambient and electronic music will find this album to truly be a treasure and a “must have.”
Get it here: https://www.carolynfok.com/
