‘Marooned’ is far from a minimal record as its name might suggest. The full bodied electronic ambient dominant record from Toronto based Bicyclops utilises a wealth of instrumentation, vocal melodies, and layered electronic work to craft a lengthy and lavish record that seems to masterfully thread the line between grandiose post rock and ambient experimental electronic. Constantly on edge between these two seemingly diametrically opposed musical views, Bicyclops is able to masterfully walk that tightrope with such keen precision that the resultant work is a genre-less and imaginative wonder that evokes amazement throughout.
You can tell that Bicyclops began as an experimental and ambient artist as that style does seem to be the more foundational of the two. But there’s plenty of guitar work featured across the record, with it becoming a more and more prominent asset that he falls back on across each song. His own vocal melodies add a level of emotional depth and scope to the record as well. There’s a darkness across Marooned, effectively echoed and evoked through a production sensibility that is almost innately unsettling and sinister tonally. But it’s far from glum and depressing, the darkness has a light that exists behind its weary exterior. Ultimately, ‘Marooned’ has a feeling of hope that exists within each track. It just exists behind a darkness, not allowing itself to be outwardly and unreasonably optimistic in the wake of events that would make anyone feel a bit lost.
‘Marooned’ is experiential throughout, a marriage of eclectic experimental electronic with echoing electric guitars and a vocal melody that cascades gently over it all and basking it in emotion. Keenly atmospheric, but utterly emotive, it’s a testament to this artist’s ability to produce melodies that go well above and beyond normalcy. Apocalyptic, but fantastical. Dark, but hopeful. Immense, but subtle. An album of contrasts, but one that exists in synthesis.