*Ancients have finally unleashed their debut album, and what a belter it is. There were signs of huge promise when the single Constellations was released to whet our appetites, and "Star Showers..." is certainly fulfilling. It should not really be reviewed track-by-track because it is a complete work on its own. The aforementioned Constellations is probably the highlight, but the tracks all add up to something really quite special.
Opening track "Satellites" starts so quietly you think it is not there, but it creeps up on the listener like some kind of benign entity, before the layers of guitar and drums build, and towering vocals flesh out the sound. This approach is consistent throughout the album, but second track "Arcturus" is driven by piano and electronica. There are many textures here.
The sublime "Constellations" is next. You know something is coming as the tension builds, but as the volume increases and the soaring vocals come in, it difficult to describe just how magnificent it sounds. "Icarus" follows, and literally sounds like a storm brewing, quiet, organic soundscapes building more tension. This seamlessly merges into the three-part "Cassiopeia" is quite restrained yet still offers a dramatic release from the mood of the previous track. The second part, is very quiet, like the calm after a storm. The album ending third part is thick with strings and those life-affirming vocals, but is also delicate - perfect for the closing credits.
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Many albums are described as sounding like the end of the world, but this sounds like the birth of new worlds. The only complaint is that the album is not as epic in length as it is in scope. Still, quality not quantity...
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