If you turn the clocks back seven years to the now distant days of 2015, Zayn was leaving One Direction, Kanye was planning to run for president, and Far From Your Sun was launching their expansive debut album, ‘In the Beginning... Was The Emotion’. A studio-based and entirely anonymous collective, Far From Your Sun’s debut album became a true hidden gem of the progressive rock scene, earning critical acclaim wherever it happened to be heard.
Combining music with photography, painting, and writing, the project was built on a very special ethos, capturing a beating heart and hopeful optimism in its stride. A complex listening experience, it was an album that set the standard and forged a brave new path, and now, the band are ready to unleash the next chapter in their journey.
Titled ‘The Origin of Suffering’, the band’s sophomore album is a brilliant continuation of their sound, delving into an engaging blend of styles, sounds, and influences that take lead from various times, places, and literary voices. From the banks of the River Nile to the heart of the 19th Century enlightenment, poems of Emily Dickinson and Oscar Wilde, to the coming of Jesus, and our last days on Earth, the album is historical, spiritual, emotional, and utterly enjoyable.
Opening with ‘A Crown of Thorns’, the new album wastes little time in drawing you into its musical web, delivering a gorgeous melody that flitters between wandering electric guitar and more textured acoustic chords. Bold, but beautiful, the track is an evolving piece that seamlessly transitions between styles, offering a sentimental sound that is perfectly reflected in the vocals.
In ‘Water For Osiris’, the band channel ancient deities and beliefs, stitching mysticism and magic into a classic rock anthem. It’s a song that draws you back to the days of howling guitars and thunderous melodies, heightening every note with energy and intensity, while calls for water chime in the foreground. As ‘The Hand and The Voice’ arrives, it stands firm as the album’s second single, conjuring up a powerful and wonderfully unique piece, one that asked the question, what if Jesus had never wanted to come to Earth? A question expressed through delicate piano work and slow, building balladry, it’s a touching statement about humanity and spirituality that perfectly represents the world that Far From You Sun creates.
As the album continues, ‘La fuite de la lune’ shines through spacious harmonies and mixed, orchestral sounds, weaving acoustic guitar, gentle brass, and poetic spoken word into an undeniable release. Elsewhere, ‘Behind the Wall’ explodes with a colourful instrumental track, cleansing the space, before ‘Tempus Edax, Homo Edacior’ hits with a timeless, enduring, and impossible to deny sound. Named after a quote from French writer Victor Hugo, it’s a song that evolves perfectly from gentle, textured strings and heartfelt balladry, driving home a sense of self and chaotic empowerment. It’s a track that never quite settles, building into a semi-classical epic that expresses the age-old sentiment that in life, we build something bigger than ourselves. Steeped in emotive instrumental work that forms from delicate piano notes and more arresting string arrangements.
Produced by Frédéric Gervais at Henosis Studio, ‘The Origin of Suffering’ escapes the typical album format, offering a deeper level of artistry and discovery that holds you transfixed. Transcending culture, spirituality, and the daily grind that consumes us all, the album is another revelatory piece from the band, as well as a gorgeous statement about life and the connections that exist between us all.
Along with the release of the album on all major digital platforms, Far From Your Sun have also launched their first crowdfunding campaign, aiming to create a deluxe physical release of the album on CD. Limited to three hundred copies, and active now, it’s a unique opportunity to gain a piece of Far From Your Sun history.
Rating: 9/10
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