Album Review: Ascansion by Orval Carlos Sibelius
Orval Carlos Sibelius’s Ascansion, released under the French label Clapping Music, is a fascinating dive into sonic textures that feel both intimate and expansive. It’s not your typical album where every track screams for attention; instead, it quietly pulls you in, like a conversation with an old friend who has stories you didn’t know you needed to hear.
One standout track is “Echo Chamber Reverie.” The way Sibelius layers delicate synth pads with what sounds like field recordings of rain creates this hypnotic atmosphere. You don’t just listen to it—you kind of live inside it for a few minutes. There’s no grand climax, but that’s the charm. It’s understated yet deeply evocative, like staring out of a train window on a grey afternoon. Honestly, I couldn’t shake it off even hours after listening.
Then there’s “Celestial Drift,” which hits differently. This one leans heavier into rhythm, blending glitchy percussion with soaring strings that almost sound like they’re trying to break free from the mix. The tension between chaos and harmony keeps you hooked. It’s the kind of track that makes you nod along involuntarily, even if you’re just sitting at your desk pretending to work.
What strikes me about Ascansion is how unapologetically French it feels—not in a clichéd beret-and-baguette way, but in its refusal to conform to expectations. Sibelius doesn’t seem interested in chasing trends or crafting radio-friendly hits. Instead, he lets the music breathe, wander, and occasionally stumble. And weirdly enough, that’s what makes it memorable.
If I had to nitpick, some transitions between tracks feel a bit abrupt, as though the album itself is still figuring out its own identity. But maybe that’s intentional? After all, ascension—whether spiritual or artistic—is rarely a smooth journey.
Final thought: Listening to this album felt like finding a handwritten note tucked inside an old library book. It wasn’t perfect, but it had soul. And honestly, isn’t that what music should be about? Oh, and fun fact—I listened to it while making toast, and now I can’t eat toast without thinking of Orval Carlos Sibelius. Go figure.
