Tag: ashtonnyte

Beauty in Chaos: Dancing with Angels

foggyLeave a comment

Michael Ciravolo and company are back with another deep dive into Chaos- this time Dancing with Angels brings the usual brand of post-punk goodness with an extra treat for those with headphones.

I know every generation thinks theirs is the best. Those of us who are Generation X know the truth. When it comes to music, we are the perfect generation. We grew up through many, distinct and influential musical movements. From childhood to adult, we grew up with classic and prog rock, punk, new-wave, post punk, metal, old school rap, alternative, and nu-metal among many others. I can distinctly remember buying music from each of these genres, both the place and the time. I spent hours waiting on a song to come on the radio so that I could record it on a cassette, probably a TDK. My friends and I gathered around a less than hi-def tv to catch Headbangers Ball or 120 minutes. Music wasn’t passive, it was something we did. We were active participants.

So why walk down memory lane? It’s simple- I’m listening to new Beauty in Chaos- Dancing with Angels. And Beauty in Chaos lands me smack dab in the middle of my love for post punk music that spawned in the early 80s. When I listen to the Cure, Joy Division, New Order, or Beauty in Chaos, it’s like sitting with an old friend you haven’t spoken to in a while. It’s fresh, but with a serious hint of nostalgia and familiarity, like putting on an old worn sweater. Like all good post punk-ish records, this one hits you with tasty riffs and an underlying driving bassline. Some synth added in here and there to add the appropriate atmosphere, and of course the art. Post punk music is about art meets music. And simply put, Michael Ciravolo is creating art.

Dancing with Angels releases on July 24. It comes complete with eight new songs, eight “Halos” and two bonus tracks. A few BIC alumni return on this one: Ashton Nyte, Kat Leon, Wayne and Cinthya Hussey, and of course Michael Rozon behind the scenes. Joining the BIC family for Dancing with Angels are: William Faith and Sarah Rose Faith, Leo Luganskiy, Julian Shah-Taylor, Cynthia Isabella, and Patrik Mata. The album is constructed of one song, one interlude Halo, another song, another Halo, etc with two bonus tracks on the end. For the sake of this review, I will discuss the songs first, the Halos second, and both together as a complete work of art.

As a whole, Dancing with Angels sits comfortably in the pocket that is Beauty in Chaos music. It definitely feels like what has come before, but the big difference here is the maturity. It seems that Michael Ciravolo and Michael Rozon have found their groove and are working together seamlessly. They have a vision that is clear and those vocalists who join fit the mold. Again, Michael has chosen a wonderful group of singers to both write lyrics and deliver them wonderfully.

Dancing with Angels

The first song on the record is Present Tense by William Faith and Sarah Rose. It begins with some guitar distortion before breaking into a driving, melodic guitar. William Faith’s voice is deep with years of experience. It’s perfect for the lyrics- a song about trying to live in the present when the past constantly sneaks back in to rob us of joy. We can’t get back those years; we must enjoy the present. Sarah Rose Faith does an amazing job backing William. During the breakdown, she embraces her best Kim Gordon as she whisperingly demands, “breathe.” Ciravolo’s guitar work here is brilliant, as is Rozon’s mixing. Their partnership comes through loud and clear- this song is seamless and a great album opener.

The second song is The Devil You Know featuring Kat Leon from Holy Wars. This one slows a bit. It’s melodic with the guitar accompanied by synth creating a dreamy affect. Leon’s beautiful vocals are the star here. Singing from the perspective of one who has had to learn that not everyone is genuinely good, has your best interest at heart, or is faithful, Leon’s eyes are opened wide. She is no longer the victim. She sings, “weaponized my kindness, now you’ll feel this pain.” Her vocal performance is sweet, yet haunting, kind of like a “crooked smile.”

The third song on the record is Diving for Pearls. It features Wayne and Cinthya Hussey. It was the second song and video released from the record. (not counting Bloodletting which is a bonus track) This song will pull up a seat next to you, put its arm around you and start a conversation like you are old friends. This is post-punk 80s in the best of ways. Ciravolo hits the sweet spot with guitar- the tone, the notes, the rhythm, the melody. Wayne Hussey provides the main vocals. His voice is full of gravel and memories- perfect to narrate the experience of finally shedding the weight of the loss of someone.

“I’ve been diving for pearls now I’m coming up for air

I’m casting off the chains that dragged me deep

I’ve been swimming ‘round in circles chasing dolphins everywhere

But I’m no longer shedding tears, no more tears shall I weep for you”

Hussey’s wife Cinthya adds the backing vocals here and juxtaposes his voice perfectly. This is the best song on the record and one of my favorite new songs this year.

  

The hits keep coming with the fourth song: Echoes and the Angels. This one features Leo Luganskiy. This is my first time hearing Leo. His voice is beautiful, higher than Hussey or Nyte and perfectly placed on the record following Hussey. This one is softer and slower featuring singular guitar notes rather than heavy chords. The star on this one is the dynamic, snappy drum beat. All build to a beautiful, melodic chorus where Leo shines. This one has an excellent breakdown with some tasty notes from Ciravolo and vocals showing a mighty range.

Kiss Me (Goodbye) is the first song and video released from the album. It features Julian Shah-Tayler of the Singularity Music. Musically, this one sits perfectly on the record with the others. The guitar work is harder, driving and the drums and more punctuated. Shah-Tayler effortless surfs atop the music with a huge dynamic voice- he can hit all the notes and it’s on display here. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the touch of Sonic Youth in this one with the guitar fuzz to the rising guitar crescendos.

The next song is Hollow featuring Cynthia Isabella. This one is slower and has a funky bassline groove that is more pronounced than the other entries. Well placed on the album following a rocker. Of all the songs, this one feels like a poem. Sometimes lines just ring true, there is a phrasing that just HITS. This songs does this all in the context of beautiful imagery. We are truly on a journey of self discovery: trees, hills, time, riding, islands, dark, dreams, the sea, sailors – all in the silence. “Heart sing for me” and “silent and so free.” It’s ok to be alone- we are enough to ourselves. This one is haunting and beautiful.

Holy Ground features Patrik Mata. This one starts slower with some synth tricks followed by Michaels ringing guitar as he draws out the notes. From there, the song sits nicely in a melodic pocket. The real star here is Mata’s vocals- his cadence and flow are dynamic. He effortlessly flows through some dark lyrics.

The final track, prior to the bonuses, is Made of Rain from Beauty in Chaos alum Ashton Nyte. This one is slow and deliberate. The song is heavy and lends itself to Nyte’s baritone delivery. Nyte is smooth as ever as he beautifully croons through verse and chorus. It seems that Nyte has crafted a song about opening yourself to the possibilities, submitting yourself to the path laid before you rather than competing against it. Our nature is rain, but we don’t have to douse our own fires. The “winds did shape the sails while you slept” so let go and embrace it- follow your bliss, so to speak. Another solid entry from Ashton and Michael.

Now, the “Halos.” I would imagine that this concept would be lost on most. Essentially, the eight Halos on this record are a soundscape. Other versions of this concept appear as intros to an album by groups like Slipknot. Trent Reznor of NIN created entire records of texture, nuance and noise called Ghosts. Here, Ciravolo bravely adds a “Halo” between each song. In all honesty, I went into this review listening separately, as if the Halos were simply add-ons. After listening to both multiple times, I listened to Dancing with Angels in its entirety and was surprised that the Halos actually made the album better. It’s not a slight on my expectations from Mr. Ciravolo, it’s just a risky concept. So why did it work?

Michael Rozon at work on Dancing with Angels.

Halo 1 is true musical exploration. I would assume Michael Rozon is sitting behind the computer, diabolically rubbing his hands together as he is given the reins to cleverly mix cool sounds and textures. This, like the others begs for a good set of headphones. I am using my Apple Pro over the ear noise cancelling headphones; this sounds spectacular. My only issue with this first one is that it should have led off the record. What a great intro to Present Tense this would have been.

Halo 2 is vastly different than the first. The guitar work here conjures images of the middle east. In the background are beautiful vocals from former Beauty in Chaos singer Whitney Tai. Her choral effects are haunting over slow, deliberate guitar notes. There are percussive elements that work very well here as well, accentuating the middle east vibe. On its own, it works perfectly, but it also adds such a wonderful intro to Diving for Pearls.

Halo 3 switches gears again. It comes in slow with a few low notes and feedback. The notes rise and fall, gradually building. This one is short, coming in at about two minutes. It truly feels like a song intro, and not something that totally works on its own. Halo 4 comes in with a long tone, lilting guitar notes over the top. This one would not be out of place in an old country western. It was entirely too long. This one at 2:00 would have been much better. If there was a misstep on the albums in terms of Halos, it is three and four.

Halo 5!!! Certified Banger. This is the most unique, riveting piece of music of all the Halos. It begins with muffled saxophone from Psychedelic Furs legend Mars Williams who sadly passed last November. The song repeats a pattern of saxophone bits and haunting guitar notes. It’s experimental and groovy as hell. It comes across as a musical “tag, your it” back and forth between Mars and Michael. And Mr. Rozon needs to be commended for turning the sax into screams at one point near the end of the song.

Halo 6 comes in soft with some noise, some synth, and some catchy notes. Just when you feel that this one will take off, it steps back and digs in deeper to the notes. This one trembles as it progresses. Just when the listener thinks the song is going to do something formulaic, it changes. New sounds, side to side panning. This one is truly a soundscape.

The Michaels- the masterminds behind BIC

Halo 7 begins with some high notes over growing ambient noise. It peels back and then moves forward adding more synth, building. Soft, whispers lyrics appear and then as quickly leave. Some deep kettle-like drums, more soft lyrics. During the song, there are elements that make the listener think it’s going somewhere, achieving a crescendo. My only wish for this one was that it took off near the end. The build up was there; just need a better payoff.

Halo 8 is ambitious. It begins with waves crashing on a shore. Stops, Michael’s guitar kicks in, slowly, deliberately. Slow drum in the back. Tish Ciravolo providing some deep bass in the background. Her bass is subtle and distinctive. Guitar picks up and is ever present amidst the ambient sound and synth. There is a tone on this one reminiscent of David Gilmour that feels like it would fit perfectly on a Pink Floyd record. This one is dreamy and creates a beautiful atmosphere. Another spectacular soundscape with headphones on.

Final Verdict

This is another excellent entry into the Beauty in Chaos family of albums. In many ways, this one exceeds the others. The eight main songs are fantastic. In his usual fashion, Michael Ciravolo chooses amazing people to write lyrics and deliver amazing vocals. He typically finds a gem that I don’t know know. Here, I’m glad to have been introduced to Cynthia Isabella. I love her voice and poetic lyrics. And, I love revisiting old favorites like Ashton Nyte and Wayne Hussey.

Where this record surpasses the others is in its boldness, it’s experimentation. It would have been easy to release the eight songs. They are great and the reception will likely be positive. But rather than fall back on that, Ciravolo and Rozon put together a collection of “Halos.” They are risky. They are experimental. They risk negative comments. I believe they make the record better and add depth and texture. The Halos provide a soundscape mortar that connects each song.

Beauty in Chaos Dancing with Angels will be released on July 24. You can purchase CDs, vinyl, etc at the Beauty in Chaos website.

The Awakening – Shadow Call

foggyLeave a comment

The third single from The Awakening’s This Alchemy, Shadow Call, released as a stunning new video.

Lead singer and lyricist for The Awakening, Ashton Nyte, has been a busy young man. Right before the Covid epidemic in 2018, Ashton collaborated with Human Drama’s guitarist and Schecter Guitar’s president Michael Ciravolo on a few songs for his project called Beauty in Chaos. In that same year, he released an album with The Awakening called Chasm. In 2020, Mr. Nyte released a solo album called Waiting for a Voice with an accompanying book of beautiful writings and poems. Then, in 2021, presumably because Ashton is a fount of inspiration and hates down time, he released another record with The Awakening, the band’s 10th.

Shadow Call is the third single off the record. Ashton Nyte describes Shadow Call this way, “The song and video are essentially about dealing with depression and other forms of mental illness. I believe that if we feel safe enough to speak about these challenges, we have a better chance to cope with them and hopefully overcome them.”

The video is black and white with stunning composition. In light of Nyte’s description of the song, the video creates a world in which a person is trapped. The band is goth, the music dark and the castle sets the tone. With visual sweeps of the misty landscapes and a birds eye entry into the castle (for lack of a better term), we begin the journey of the mind.

The castle is a metaphor for the mind. Nyte, here ,is the protagonist and locked in the castle. His straight jacket and barbed wire surrounding the outer walls ensure there is no doubt. Within the walls are demonic like figures wearing masks and we travel through dilapidated tunnels leaking water. There is a sense of foreboding oozing from every frame of the video.

Nyte plays chess with a mysterious figure in black. Life, like chess, requires making the right moves. Here we get a sense of Nyte playing for his life. From there cuts between a locked prison door with a small eye view port and Nyte singing the lyrics- the mind can truly be a prison. We get a really cool, worms eye view of a corridor within the castle. It’s outside, but it’s a steep, windows adorn the walls, yet it is seemingly an insurmountable obstacle.

The video continues with dark imagery. A light, signifying hope, fizzles out and explodes. There are people in water reaching and splashing. As we see cuts of Ashton singing and playing guitar, we return to the character and chess. He removes the mask……it’s Ashton Nyte.

Again, another beautiful metaphor that we can be our worst enemy. We can work against ourselves in our fight to recover. Nyte, here, alone has little chance. His point is that being trapped in your own mind can be insurmountable on your own. Mental health requires help.

This song and video are beautifully haunting. More importantly, it’s art doing what art does best- expressing emotion and depicting the human condition in a way that makes it easy to confront. Simply stunning effort!

Check the video out here:

Not totally unrelated, there is another song that deals with mental health and uses a mansion as a metaphor. It’s by NF and called Mansion. It is completely different in terms of tone and genre, but equally powerful in message about mental health. You might check that one out.

Come back to WanderingsandWoolgathering for my music news and reviews.

Ashton Nyte – Waiting for a Voice

foggyLeave a comment

The time prior to an album release is kind of like being a kid a few days before Christmas. It’s not lost on me that that analogy is a bit silly considering I’m nearly 50, but it speaks volumes about my love of music and its effect on me. I’ve had this experience recently on the 40th Anniversary release of Rush’ Permanent Waves and Slipknot’s We Are Not Your Kind. And now, I’m completely chuffed about a release from a musician I only learned about a year and a half ago.

When I heard Ashton Nyte on A Beauty in Chaos‘ release Finding Beauty in Chaos, I was blown away. He was featured on Storm, which he re-envisioned and somehow made better, Bloodless and Fragile, and Finding Beauty in Chaos. I immediately searched his catalog and dug in. I found that he has 19 studio albums since 1997 both solo and in his band the Awakening. The albums are eclectic wavering between goth rock, post punk rock, straight up rock, and a little folk. As a listener, it’s exciting because you aren’t sure what you might get, other than brilliance. In the past few years, Ashton gave us a more upbeat, post punk album in Some Kind of Satellite ( and my favorite Ashton song Halo in the Dirt) and a seriously rocking song, Back to Wonderland, on the Awakening’s release Chasm.

Side Note: I wish I was aware of the Awakening in 2000. The Dark Romantics is a song that could make me visually remember where and when I first heard it.

So, that brings us to Waiting for a Voice. As I said, I wasn’t sure what to expect. His last two records, both solo and with Awakening, were a bit more upbeat. This one, like his live Facebook show, is more intimate and more poetic. That isn’t to detract from those other releases, it’s just that this one from a musical perspective, ethereal lyrics and visuals from the album and book lend itself to a soul baring bit of poetry.

Waiting for a Voice -The album opens with a short, melodic and sad song. It’s beautiful and haunting. The speaker speaks desperately to the ocean and a tearful willow waiting for a voice. It’s interesting to note the beauty surrounding him, yet he chases horizons- those things out of reach rather than reveling in what is. Perhaps, our speaker is at the beginning of a journey and is still a bit lost.

Ocean Song– Ocean Song opens with a groovy guitar and fingers sliding on the strings. The intimate nature of the song is clearly on display here as the instruments are stripped down allowing us to sit in the room with Ashton. This one is interesting in that in the album opener, he is listeneing for a voice, but here he is surrounded by voices. He needs to accept what they are saying. We can’t wait on what is not there.

This Isolation– This one opens with some beautiful guitar work with Ashton crooning over the top. It’s a sad song that offers hope. “Standing at the edge, but the story never ends.” I love that notion and the true poetic nature of those words can be used in any facet of our lives. That is the mark of an effective poet.

Has Anybody Seen My Love– Ashton begins singing here with a slight beat and chime in the background. As the first verse ends and the chorus begins, the song picks up with a heavily pronounced guitar. “My days of blurry echoes and with empty nights. The morning holds no promise without a light.” Ashton’s word play on this record is so clever. He is painting with broad strokes here so the listener can connect in a more personal way. I get the feeling that there is a very personal message here, but our message isn’t taken from us.

Dark Star– This one is a definite groover. It has a catchy guitar and vocal melody. The percussion kicks in and immediately invokes head nodding or foot tapping. Ashton’s vocals ebb and flow before a very cool keyboard-like string effect kicks in and takes this one to another level. “Dark Star in the sky, I wanted to be you. Your silent glow is so removed from the things I need to prove, from the cracks below the truth.” I’m not sure what the inspiration is here, but again, the speaker here seems to be looking outside of himself for answers. This motif is apparent throughout the album; sometimes the answers are out there and sometimes inside. The enigmatic nature will keep me guessing for a while.

I Asked For Nothing– This is a departure from the last song. It has a much more folksy feel. We continue our trip through nature. A man is washing his soul in the fountain. Again, nature may hold the key to our happiness or fulfillment. My favorite line on the album, or any other album I have heard recently appears in this song, “And there’s the truth meets pain, for comfort. We talk in rhyme just to prove we believe.” Paradoxically- I love this. Best song on the record.

Pages: 1 2