La'cryma Christi - Sculpture of Time

La'cryma Christi's Sculpture of Time album is a compilation of various older releases with a number of the songs rearranged especially for this album release.

When I first sat to listen to the album it was about 11 o’clock at night. I soon realised it was an especially good time to start listening to an album such as this.

The album starts at first, with a comical melody of Night Flight that for a few moments turns out to sound a little strange just before the song enters its slow yet strong pace. The song has a tendency to make the listener recall the partially comical feeling of the start but without letting him leave the seriousness and melancholy that is the strong point of the song. Night Flight was probably the best decision as an opening song of the album.

At least, that was how I felt as the last, almost enigmatic, melody faded.
Soon afterwards the optimistic riffs of Nangoku start to play, the change of style would probably catch most listeners off guard. Nangoku is a much lighter song that makes you feel optimistic and happy.

Almost natural seems the change into the next song Sanskrit Shower. This song is more serious and moodier than Nangoku. Up until now the listener should feel the variety of sounds La'cryma Christi compose and perform in such a lovable way. Sanskrit Shower remains enjoyable and ends quite abruptly (even though it runs for almost 6 minutes).

Another fade out takes us to the Ivory Trees which contains a different kind of melancholy, but none the less with a positive mood. Depending on the particular mood of the listener it builds throughout the song an increasingly passionate and lurking optimism to leads to the ending in such a sweet way.

The next track Angolmois gets into the meaning right from the start, stating itself in a strong way but still pointing out its sad way of continuing though with some almost happy moments and then back to its original mood, finishing you off with everything that has remained.

Next is Letters Now the pace is changing into a romantically strong and crafty optimism which never lets it down until the last second. Letters with good news.

The following song Henseifuu takes a different approach. Melancholic and sometimes enigmatic melodies fill this song's atmosphere with riffs full of passion lurk here and there. The song ends in such a classical way that will ring a bell to many J-music fans.

Next is the largest song in duration. Nemurigusuri is mostly a slow song. There is so much feeling in this song that it seems as if the band want the music to really affect the listener. Lament-like yet with glints of hope and distrust the song builds progressively into a strong climax but sadly it reaches into a unsatisfactory conclusion. The last minute ends with a children’s choir that reminds of Pink Floyd.

After the long Nemurigusuri follows The Scent. This is a very light and happy song that might remind the listener of Night Flight at some moments. This song however in contrast has a very different and fast paced mood.

The last song on the album is the surreal sounding Blueberry Rain. This song may remind listeners of previous La'cryma Christi songs. An excellent ending song for an album that is almost like a goodbye, letting you sit back with a feeling of completion to take a breath after a magnificent ten track and almost hour lasting, musical journey.

There is little more to say about Sculpture of Time. The album clearly shows the creativity of the band and their great musical thoughts that work together. The band show on this album how their nice bass-lines and two guitars cooperate in such a harmonic and multi-flavoured way. The drums always fit nicely and work so satisfyingly with the bass and a talented vocalist. The outcome is ready to be heard for a long time now.