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Aidan Casserly And Kriistal Ann Muse Album Review

by Phlis (Alteria Anarchy) 

I must admit I have known of Aidan Casserly for a while, he has a very angelic calming voice that I have come to really like and admire for his work in Empire State Human, KuBO and also his solo work.  Aidan recently recorded a concept album with a Greek singer by the name of Kriistal Ann, the album is called ‘Muse’. Both Aidan and Kriistal duet and they each in their own way are the muse to each other.  I was very much interested in this concept and it was my pleasure to oblige them, when I was asked to review the album. So what did I think? Read on and you shall see.

The album opens with ‘This Monument’, from the start it has a very ethereal quality.  Soothing bass lines and the sound of the saxophone delight your ears straight away, when you hear Aidan’s relaxing vocals.  The song tells you of the dreamy monument, the song eases into a wonderful beat which is energetic but yet indulgent.  Kriistal Ann has such a beautiful Greek accent which shines through in her vocals which as expected, is the perfect accompaniment to Aidan’s voice and her voice holds so much power and subtlety.

‘Spring Tide’ follows soon after, beautiful guitar strumming, accompanied by the sound of water, which is the beginning of a beauty that follows in the form of Kriistal Ann’s celestial heavenly voice.  Again Aidan follows and just compliments Kriistal  Ann. Again I am falling in love with both Kriistal Ann’s accent, whilst she sings and the captivating sound of Aidan. You know Kriistal Ann was afraid of the impurity of her vocals but to be honest I hear none at all.  I hear a very beautiful, complex and invigoratingly powerful and subtle voice.

As we edge into the jazzy soulful ‘Road to Oblivion’ it is obvious why Aidan and Kriistal decided to team up on this. ‘Road to Oblivion’ is a track where you could imagine yourself sitting in some filled jazz club, in the heart of New Orleans, this is pure ragtime swing heaven. That electric organ sound and sax is just engulfed in the pure love and eroticism of ‘Road to Oblivion’. There is a lot going on here and you can tell the pure emotion held in this track and it flows in the voices of the two storytellers. Muse yes, each is their own yet each others muse.

‘From Chaos’ starts with Kriistal Ann being the muse, is it possible to fall for a voice?  I think if you listen to ‘Muse’ then yes you will agree it is, it is hard not to fall for the wonderful tones of each muse here.  The music behind ‘From Chaos’ carries as much power as the voices heard telling you such a wonderful tale. The song is all about obsession for each other and it ends with drums, signifying a true heartbeat between two lovers.

‘Steal into Symbols’ follows a very similar sound that you have become accustomed to on this album, with the sax but yet here you find a strong piano which fades into a full understated hearty sound. Aidan’s vocals are light here and Kriistal Ann is the one with true power; power and tenderness.  This is a very sensual album so far, relaxing and emotional.

‘To Tell The Truth’ has a seventies pop sound backed up by an orchestral feel which flows into a typical sound we are used to with Aidan, but yet it drifts back into that sound that it started with.  It’s then a sentimental and spontaneous exchange of vows, as if it were between two real lovers. The music ebbs and flows as the duet unfolds, between Aidan and Kriistal Ann, which again is a to and fro between the perfectly matched muses.

‘Ballad of the Sea’ gets straight into the action straight away. The perfect echoes which Aidan creates, muster up images of being an emotional fish in a climatic, sorrowful sea. The song in a way is tragic but yet wondrous and statuesque at the same time, again wow Kriistal Ann has perfection and power, whilst being serene at the same time. ‘Muse’ is truly a coupling of perfectly matched vocal tones and tender lyrics at the same time.

‘Mortals to the Underworld’ starts with a lovely, happy musical melody, how is it possible to approach a song about death in such a happy way? I really don’t know, but yet ‘Mortals to the Underworld’ gives hope to such a sorrowful, mournful feeling.  This is beauty and serenity, where normally there should be only sorrow. Again, the muse is powerful and shared between the exquisiteness and elegance that is created at the meeting point, of two perfect vocalists.

‘Winter’s Eye’ is the final song on this amazing album, this is the song that was made into a video and is available on YouTube. In a way it seems to encompass all that has been before and will be again. ‘Muse’ is an album that will not end, because as when you play ‘Winter’s Eye’, you will just go back to ‘This Monument’ and start all over again.

‘Muse‘ is an album that I advise you to do one thing to. Get your headphones on, turn off the lights, relax and enjoy this album for what it truly is. It’s a masterpiece of perfectly matched voices, that are in each others own muse, that is filled with a lot of emotion and tranquillity. I’m glad this album came my way, as it’s a pleasure to have the chance to review, such a true work of musical art delivered to us by Aidan Casserly and Kriistal Ann.