Red Dwarf Star is a new project from Coley Dennis that captures a deeply personal arc that spans continents, relationships, and creative reinvention. Dennis is known best for his work with Maserati, an outfit that leans into collaborative, rhythm-driven expanses rooted in krautrock and electronic psych.
Red Dwarf Star`s self-titled album is a reflection on the years following Dennis’ move from the United States to Switzerland in 2015, where he pursued a new life shaped by family, work and the quiet upheavals that accompany profound change.
We are introduced to the album via `Le Mur Du Son` which translates literally as sound barrier which refers to the point where an object travels at Mach 1, matching the speed of sound at roughly 340 m/s (1,224 km/h) in 15°C air. A strange title as the track is a fairly introspective offering and had the intensity of Pink Floyd with a slight nod to the melodic nature of Snow Patrol. A number that will have you totally immersed in its layers and leave you far from comfortably numb. There`s a more electronic slant to `Ex-Patriot` which has a real urgency about it with vocals that are shared through a vocoder and brought to mind Neil Young`s `Trans` album from over forty years ago.
`Le Virage` appears to translate to “the bend”, “the turn”, or “the curve” in a road, path, or river. Figuratively, it means a major “shift”, “turnaround”, or “change” in direction, such as an environmental or digital transformation. It does seem to have a spiral like feel to it and retains vocals that are again synthesised through an encoder and had a slight Kraftwerk vibe. There`s a mix of processed and otherworldly vocals on `Lady Aurora Borealis` which is a poetic, metaphorical name for the Northern Lights is a dreamy composition that creates an enticing celestial ambience.
`Dream Sequence` suggests a technique used in storytelling, particularly in television and film, to set apart a brief interlude from the main story. The track which runs at one hundred and forty five seconds almost emphasises this proposal with it`s ethereal vocals and ambient soundscape. The title of `Twin Suns` conjures a picture of a binary sunset, a powerful visual motif suggesting duality, destiny, and generational balance. A submission possibly marking a turning point. A delightfully iridescent listen which does have a reflective electronic section just after the midpoint with spectral vocals that give the number an almost gospel like quality.
`Thorns` historically represent resilience and natural defence, while biblical traditions tie them to the fallen world, sin, and Christ’s ultimate sacrifice. The track has a robustness about it and is fairly forceful and jagged at times as it evolves. The final cut `Kiss` which symbolises different things depending on the context and the culture. Generally, it represents love, affection, and intimacy, but it can also signify respect, greeting, or even commitment and betrayal. This final piece is a kind of contemplative and introspective instrumental which has a delightful almost prog rock like enticement about it.
Although Red Dwarf Star began as a solitary endeavour, it appears that it has expanded to a broader trajectory as Coley Denis has shared “Mathias Poese from the Leipzig post rock band Jeffk has been on board on guitar since the beginning of the live phase so he will be continuing with us as well as Blaise Brechbühl on bass formerly of Kruger and currently Orso out of Lausanne, Switzerland. On drums I’ve enlisted Alessandro Pascolo from the Italian band Lenore.”
It will be interesting to witness how Red Dwarf Star will evolve, develop, and grow on a more permanent footing. This initial album could well be an acorn that grows into a mighty oak.
Rating 8/10
