kris cadwell – dissonance is necessary [2012]

My new album is finished.  PLZ DONATE I’M POOR!  Fans who donate $5 or more get access to the Dissonance B-sides.

You can listen to individual tracks or download the entire album HERE.

Following is a review of the album written by Connor Krushel.  You can see his art HERE.

“Dissonance is Necessary” is the latest album created by Kris Cadwell (Dysphor/Dyzv0r), an artist whose electronic music combines aspects of both mechanical and organic feeling music.I’ve been listening to Kris’s music for 5 years now, and he never ceases to amaze me in his ability to explore various sounds and instruments ie. glitchy percussion with acoustic guitar. with each album his music grows and changes almost like a living thing, although electronic.

In my time of listening to his music, I’ve found that each of his albums, be it intentional or otherwise, captures a theme of sorts that can range from an emotion or colour or even a story. Dissonance is necessary is no exception. To my surprise, however, his past albums have been very flowing and almost alive like stated above. This album is probably his most methodical and mechanical album yet with very heavy emphasis on precision and articulation of the percussion and instruments which gives a feel of productivity and efficiency not unlike a factory floor robot. Songs that reinforce this are “asleep in class”, “high score” and the title track, “Dissonance is Necessary”.

However, it wouldn’t be a Kris Cadwell album without bleak and dark tracks like “no memories” and “clique sqrape”, which are more reminiscent of his past albums like “Offerings” or “places to get lost”. most of his albums have songs like this that seem to step outside the boundaries of the albums theme. although usually it’s the upbeat tracks that break away rather than the overwhelmingly sad songs.

It’s refreshing to know that an artist like Cadwell continues to grow and develop his music, not for personal gain, but almost to achieve a state of enlightenment which I continue to learn from, even 5 years later. I look forward to see where he will take his music as his career continues and I strongly recommend that anybody who has a passion for challenging and emotional music to check out Kris’s past, present and future albums.

sometimes you are in my dreams

sometimes you are in my dreams
you never act the way you did when you were alive
its always some absurd distortion
i wake up and the room is empty
my thoughts move from wall to wall like bullets
emotions ready to fire at the slightest provocation
i usually want to hear sad music at that point
something that was highly regarded by us
when you were alive

i make it into the afternoon somehow
various problems come and go
and i fall over dizzy
disoriented i remember the dream again
the back porch we inhabited like clockwork
every day after school

later i dont want to sleep
theres some vague resistance that i cant put words to
i watch comedy shows because its better that way
but tonight i remember why
im afraid i’ll dream of you again