SPIRIT TOMB – The Lotus of Dahlia

Layered and utterly introspective, this 2-song EP by the one-man outfit appropriately named Spirit Tomb is one of those emotionally charged and desolate-sounding affairs that is impossible to shake.

With its sophisticated use of piano, cello, and fragile vocals, The Lotus of Dahlia is a study and representation of grief that encompasses strong emotions and weaves infinitely beautiful melodies together to outstanding effect. At times it feels almost overwhelming and too much to bear, which I suspect is the point of this reflective gem, and it does require quite a bit from the listener in terms of being in the right frame of mind to absorb it all, but it is worth the time and effort. The instrumentation is sparse, but the music still feels dense somehow, and effective is one way of summing up its ability to transport one to a bleak, sorrow-stricken realm. Intimate and personal, The Lotus of Dahlia is to be digested when one is alone and focused.