Devin Townsend Project - Ghost + Deconstruction

Passenger

Been giving Devin's new simultaneous two-album release, Ghost and Deconstruction, a listen over the past couple of days (Both released on the 20 June). They have even more pertinence since the date at the Academy was announced too.

Have to say that I'm enjoying the contrast between albums; the mellower Ghost and the bombastic and crazy Deconstruction.

Deconstruction is a conceptual piece about a man who goes to Hell and meets the devil. The devil promises to show him the secrets of the universe and presents him with a cheeseburger. But the man happens to be a vegetarian. Typical Devin really and a lot of similarities with Ziltoid...

The production, on both albums as usual, is impeccable. Though especially very impressive on the insane and technical Deconstruction, as he manages to keep all the arrangements and dynamics of the songs coherent and flowing in the same direction. There is a lot to digest on this album. Sonically it's outstanding and some of the big names in Metal make guest appearances including Ishan, Mikeal Akerfeldt, Fredrik Thordendal, and more. There is a lot to listen to so I imagine it will reward the listeners on many revisits.

As for Ghost, Devin explores a Folky and New Agey agenda with a more ethereal and gentle approach, using acoustic guitars, pianos, eastern flutes, and restrained drumming. Songwriting-wise it's not particularly inspiring but it does have a nice dynamic where all the songs flow thoughtfully from one to the next with an intricate efficiency and it provides an interesting counterpoint to Deconstruction.

What I like about Devin Townsend is that whether you like what he does or not, you can never accuse him of being a one trick pony. He's a very talented lad indeed.

What does everyone else think?

waltersobchak

One of the most original/talented musicians of his generation..

To go from this..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-9On0gd5zE

To this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeG-6bpeUkA

to then this.. Just show's how incredibly/diversely talented the man is..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iubCzCeiwhE

Kess73

Deconstruction needs a few listens to really start to appreciate it imho. It is so layered that you end up hearing something new with each listen. A bit like Addicted in that sense, although I think that Addicted is a little more commerical in sound to Deconstruction.


Ghost on the other hand is wonderfully mellow/new age, and I have had it on the last few nights as I go to sleep.


I liked that you could buy them as seperate albums or as part of a 2 cd set.



Ghost 2 is due in September so we will see what else is falling out of his head soon.

Jako8

Kess73 wrote: »

Ghost 2 is due in September so we will see what else is falling out of his head soon.

He's also working on a new project called Epicloud. He did a few demos which, I think, featured Anneke van Giersbergen.

That man seriously never stops working. :P

Fysh

I haven't gotten around to listening to Ghost yet, I've been listening to Deconstruction repeatedly since Calm & The Storm turned up for me on Monday. It's a great album alright, manic and inventive and layered - it definitely feels like a logical successor to Ziltoid in that sense, almost like what you might get if SYL-era Townsend got together with Mike Patton to write a concept album.

I was intrigued to find a pre-order card with details on how to get some preview tracks from Ghost II. Haven't listened to them yet but presumably he's keen on branching out further in that sort of Terria/devlab sort of direction.

Gotta hand it to him, I can't think of any other musician whose output is as varied and just plain interesting as Townsend.

Jako8

After one listen I have to say that Deconstruction is as good as Addicted. It's brilliant. Need to give Ghost a listen now.

ted.

im mainly listening to ghost. havent went near decon.. i love heavy stuff but right now im more in a light sort of a mood.. gave a quick listen to a few of the decon songs, and as usual, devin doesnt fail to impress me.. but ghost is just out of this world. in my opinion, definitely the most alented man in rock/metal/banana