I love when artists do something novel with their releases. I’ve been following Aythis for about 5 years now, and the music only keeps getting better. Instead of launching one album, she is releasing two, called Celestial Exile and Lost Lighthouse. They are sister albums that share various elements, but also sound like two different albums entirely. They released on June 2nd.
Aythis is Carline Van Roos of the band Lethian Dreams. This is her solo output, so she composes, performs, records, and mixes everything. She comes to us from the Netherlands currently.
For both of these albums, Carline offers us ethereal vocals, thoughtful and poetic lyrics about connection and nature and the cosmos, and gorgeous melodies. However, those things are used differently depending on the album. Yes, you will find some of the same melodies on each album, but the genres, lyrics, and song titles are different. They might as well be two different albums completely, and they sound that way, but they also sound like they belong together.
Celestial Exile has more of an ambient doom sound with post-rock tendencies and floating, misty atmospheres. The album is like hazy light that illuminates your spirit and asks that you pause and consider existence. On this record, you will hear more guitar, especially in the high strung or shoegaze type, and there is more drive, though I wouldn’t say it ever gets heavy.
For me the album is one experience all the way through, but I do like the second half better. The three singles open the album, “The Endless”, “Magnetic”, and “Moonsong”, and they are all wonderful. I particularly like ‘Magnetic” for its doomy style, electronic character, and memorable melody. I really like “Between Worlds”, a piece with lots of ambience and vocal harmonies, but no lyrics. It is eerie and spacious. My favorites on this record are the title track and “Nightwalker”. The former has neoclassical flavor, which connects with the second album, and probably my favorite chorus overall. It is beautiful. “Nightwalker” is mostly instrumental, with only some lyrics in the second half, but I love how it slow burns from pure atmosphere into a driving, drum-laden finale that is really satisfying.
Lost Lighthouse is a different album with some of the same DNA. This one leans more heavily into the neoclassical and electronic sides of Aythis. I don’t recall hearing any guitar, but you will hear more keys, too, which are a real highlight for me. It’s not just the different genres, though; the album is spunky and almost borders on epic music at times, with percussive and cinematic elements. Even utilizing some of the same melodies, it sounds like something completely new. In fact, I might prefer this album to the first one.
There’s just something about it I love. The piano throughout is so beautiful and otherworldly, and combined with the pounding percussion, steady strings, and cinematic ambience, it just connects with me. The album itself is about half instrumental; there are lyrics on five tracks. In fact, the last half of the record is mostly instrumental.
“Hold the Fire” is the opener and is a favorite. I love the lively vocals and lumbering percussion, and I like how “Helios” feels like an extension with the same elements plus some piercing keyboard vistas that are truly magnificent. “Closer” comes next and almost feels like trip hop; it is definitely more electronic in style and has some bite to it. It pairs nicely with “Only Shadow Beneath Your Gaze”, a slow and cautious piece that hovers strikingly. The title track feels earnest and like a prayer to the oceans and the night. It is pure connection. I love the lyrics.
The last four tracks are wonderful. “Ares”, “Across the Skies”, “Utopian”, and “What To Do Now” feel like a single experience to me. almost like a suite. They transition from searing synth to haunting piano to lovely orchestrations to the closer “What To Do Now”, which features the return of Carline’s vocals. I love this final piece because of how human, emotional, and giving it seems. The vocal melody, especially, is convincing and convicting.
Aythis has something special here. She has two great albums, yet one experience. I always listen to them back-to-back. It doesn’t feel right otherwise. And the sense of passion and connection in every second of the music is healing and uplifting like few other albums so far this year. I hope you’ll give these albums a try.
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