Canaan - _The Unsaid Words_
(Aural Music / Eibon Records, 2006)
by: Pedro Azevedo (6 out of 10)
Italy's Canaan are one of those bands I have been aware of for a
number of years, yet never really discovered. It was therefore with
some degree of curiosity that I delved into _The Unsaid Words_, a
lengthy and apparently ambitious effort by this latest incarnation of
the band. Unsurprisingly, the material on offer consistently takes its
time to unwind and develop, requiring sufficient dedication on the
part of the listener in order to have a chance to work. Canaan's sound
is essentially built from synth and male singing (occasionally in
Italian), bass lines and occasional electric guitar, with only the
necessary percussion to carry the compositions. In between tracks,
Canaan explore more ambient based paths, also utilising acoustic
string instruments and choirs. The main compositions, so to speak, are
very laid back, tranquil pieces that generally have a conspicuous
absence of any real peaks; indeed my main criticism is that Canaan's
apparent reluctance to lead their compositions towards some kind of
climax tends to render them rather sterile for the most part. The
music is still certainly pleasant on a more atmospheric level, as
ensured by its melancholy and subtlety, and it is hard to criticise a
band for something that is clearly a songwriting option rather than a
shortcoming per se. Still, _The Unsaid Words_ turns out to be an album
that I won't be spinning much in the future for sure, as for all its
qualities it simply fails to really capture my attention for much of
its considerable duration.
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