Artist: Chris Wirsig (keyboards, vocals)
Album: The 13 Crystal Skulls
Production: Chris Wirsig
Gracefully capturing the sophistication that intriguingly drives the joy of dreams and the equally agonizing pain of nightmares is a challenge that many musicians aren’t able to accomplish, particularly without a heavy reliance on vocals. But San Francisco-based composer Chris Wirsig has captivatingly been able to effortlessly highlight the intensity that motivates his alluring imagination and harrowing visions through his latest instrumental-led songs. His 13 new tracks that are featured on his upcoming album, ‘The 13 Crystal Skulls,’ which is set to be released this Friday, May 13, powerfully highlight the emotions of his fantasies.
Wirsig, who has also released music with the acclaimed electro-noir band, no:carrier, and the electronic project, Virtual Conformity, has always been intrigued by myths and tales, particularly the mystery of the crystal skulls. As a result, he has grippingly used his piano and saxophone classical training and audio engineering education to translate that interest into his music, particularly on ‘The 13 Crystal Skulls.’ Aided by his talents in classical music, arrangement and composition, the musician daringly explores the mysterious realms where the crystal skull awaits. His new instrumental tracks on the album unleash a dark tale of emotions, beginning with the alluring entry, ‘Overture,’ which is reminiscent of a symphony arrangement. The song features an unsettingly combination of a dark, but equally serene, grand piano and haunting notes provide a perfect soundtrack for a horror attraction.
The ambient-infused record’s initial entry then stunningly delves into the equally deep and breath-taking track, ‘Ghosts of the Aztecs.’ Wirsig powerfully weaves together feelings of sorrow and desire as he reflects on everything that he once had but subsequently lost. Amidst a sinister electronic vibe, the musician express his hope that he recover his past connections and feelings, even though he has realized they may not be the best option for him now.
Cleverly accompanying the first two menacing songs on ‘The 13 Crystal Skulls’ are the intriguingly vulnerable, but equally tense, tracks, ‘Carved Legend’ and ‘Watching Eyes.’ The entries are perfect examples of music that could enthrallingly score an emotional scene in a horror film, as the characters explore the haunting dimensions of their humanity. Driven by ominous synth rhythms, chimes and piano chords, the songs also effortlessly highlight the universal emotional challenges that everyone must face throughout their lives.
Grippingly capturing the grace that powerfully drives the joy of dreams and the equally excruciating pain of nightmares is a challenge that many musicians aren’t able to accomplish, particularly without a heavy reliance on vocals. But as a composer and instrumentalist, Wirsig has naturally been able to highlight the intensity that motivates his alluring imagination and harrowing visions through his latest instrumental-led songs. His 13 new tracks on ‘The 13 Crystal Skulls’ all powerfully highlight the emotions of his fantasies, and captivatingly explore his stunning exploration into his dimensions of humanity.
For more information on ‘The 13 Crystal Skulls,’ visit the album’s web page on Wirsig’s official website. Also visit the musician’s Facebook and Twitter pages for more updates. Listen to ‘The 13 Crystal Skulls’ below.
Written by: Karen Benardello