Cellarscape is actually one man and his name is Paul Terry. Terry is a singer, guitarist and drummer, so really he needs no one else. Performing as Cellarscape since 2003, Terry has recorded a series of alt-acoustic CDs. Despite being one man the sound is quite layered (the orchestration is very beautiful), but gentle at the same time. With the delicate sound and his haunting vocals this album sounds very much like a film soundtrack. Though there are plenty of guitar hooks and harmonies, the album is full of atmosphere, 'Animation, Suspension' is largely dark and full of suspense.
Australian radio station Awesome Radio featured one of my favourite acts of all time Cellarscape aka music maker Paul Terry on their Indie Showcase podcast yesterday. The podcast which runs for just over two hours features an in depth interview with Paul who discusses everything from the early days of Cellarscape to the making of debut album ‘Animation, Suspension’ and beyond.
The podcast is also liberally sprinkled with tracks from ‘Animation, Suspension’ which include ‘Bled Out’, ‘You Got The Girl’ the lead single from the album and my personal favourite ‘Patience & Zara’.If you haven’t heard anything by Cellarscape yet, then I would definitely recommend checking out the podcast.
It provides a wonderful introduction to Cellarscape and the debut album ‘Animation, Suspension’ which has already made it on to my list of the top albums of 2009.
It's not often that a soloist can boast an album full of captivating harmonies, catchy drum beats and superb drumming, yet Cellarscape brings it all to the table – and more.
'Animation, Suspension' is an album full of songs that make you think you’ve been listening to him all your life, its instant familiarity despite fusing a whole range of musical styles has got to make this album one of the biggest surprises of the year.
One of the stand-out tracks is ‘Shadowfight’ – a very upbeat, catchy tune with plenty of the multifaceted musical talent that lifts this album.
Yet when it comes down to the basics, Cellarscape really shows how talented he is: 'December Moon' is a hauntingly beautiful song, highlighting both his vocal talent, and his skills as a producer, with the silent gaps doing just as much work as his voice, before flowing into 'Minor Fractures', a rabble rousing anthem which really gets the blood boiling.
'Animation, Suspension' may not have gotten the exposure it deserves, but if you get the chance, listen to the album that can take you from high to low and back again in fifteen perfect tracks.
It doesn't take long after the morning sun before the first dark clouds of the approaching winter settle in, darkening the skies, adding a deeper level of complexity to the day's feeling. With that approaching stormfront, a change in music is required, one slightly more complicated, more foreboding. With that change, Cellarscape makes its way into the player.
The creation of one man, Paul Terry, Cellarscape drives new tension into the alt-acoustic genre. At times light and playful, at others crushingly heavy, punishing, sinister, Cellarscape is a perfect reflection of the atmospheric drama about to take place. Starting off with the Aztec Camera-bliss of ‘Crawlspace,’ it doesn't take long before Paul begins to play with textures and tones.
Shades of a deepening sky blow through the frenetic strumming of ‘Target Acquired,’ then lighten like a passing cloud as the song reaches its elevating chorus. Contradictions in light and dark follow, like the deeply absorbing malevolence of ‘The Creek,’ the frank, gentle beauty of ‘Patience and Zara,’ or the dynamic shape-shifting ‘You Got the Girl.’
Paul Terry has created a shifting soundscape of mood and intention, shadows and passing lights. Turn it on as the storm approaches. See if the thunder doesn't resonate in time.
Fusing multi-layered vocals with fragile guitars Cellarscape have produced an alternative album that defies easy classification.
Cellarscape is the alter ego of the multi-talented Paul Terry. He writes, sings, plays the guitar and drums and no doubt makes the tea as well in an album that effortlessly jumps between genres. It's a virtuoso solo achievement.
After releasing EPs and producing music for independent films, ‘Animation, Suspension’ represents the result of almost a decade's work. Yet Terry does not try and overplay his hand. There are no showy guitar solos or excessive vocals.
Album opener 'Crawlspace' features echoey guitars, mature vocals and has the irreverent feel of a Talking Heads track. The lyrics seem amazed by how beautiful the world can be: "The skyline takes a bow and salutes, it salutes".
'Target Acquired' shifts tone as it thrashes in life with urgent drumming and maintains the momentum with a chorus that is instantly memorable. Crucially the vocal production keeps the louder backing instruments in check so as not to overwhelm the vocals. The paradoxical 'Gravity Can't Swim' features the same heavy drum beat which does not mould with the gentle nature of the song. It may have worked better as an unplugged number.
'The Creek' has a dark, gothic feel more akin to Terry's rock roots. The distorted vocals are inhuman and hellish. This contrasts with the gorgeous strung out feel of 'Patience And Zara' with its insights into the barricades built in a relationship: "Except you and your armour, where did you get it?". 'Treading Water' features a gloriously deep bass and supplements it with the album's most expressive and personal vocals.
From remarkably varied and assured openings to catchy choruses, Animation, Suspension ticks all the right boxes. Some of the song titles ('Where Vanishing Points Dissolve'; 'Minor Fractures') may be attempting to inflate their importance, but it seems harsh to criticise ambition on a debut album.
The pace of the album never dwindles and its ability to switch between songs that could have been composed by Metallica or Tears for Fears only increases its wonder.
Cellarscape's full-length album, ‘Animation, Suspension’, is an unexpected trip through human emotions. Paul Terry records, writes and performs under the name of Cellarscape. This ‘Animation, Suspension’ album runs the gauntlet of emotions and comes out the other side positive and renewed.
Paul Terry works the drums, guitar and vocals himself. His songwriting skills read like a poet’s dream, reminiscent of Jim Morrison from The Doors. He has a way of putting together the words to create a symphony of pictures and sound in your mind. This album is riveting and even groundbreaking, using some magnificent guitar riffs. You will rock out to songs like ‘Minor Fractures’ and ‘You Got The Girl’. Your heart will bleed to ‘Bled Out’, beautifully mastered. In fact, every track is different – Cellarsape travels throughout styles and emotions.
The three tracks I have singled out of the 15 tracks are: ‘Punchlines’ this is an beautiful representation of Paul Terry's gift for both songwriting and vocals. The melody is wonderful and will have you hooked. Acoustic guitar is used in this track, frames the vocals and makes them stand out, while it slowly rocks . A must for your music library.
‘Shadowfight’ is a hard-hitting guitar & drum-lead track. Great vocals! Catchy song. This one will have you up off your chair!! Songwriting is brilliant!! Lyrics and vocals are no less than I would expect from Cellarscape. Absolutely fantastic. You will love this one.
‘Minor Fractures’ – this song starts off with a lone acoustic guitar then breaks into a full frontal rock/pop track. Very upbeat, great for the club! Once again, Paul's vocals are magnificent. Songwriting is impeccable. You will be singing along with this one right away. A song that everyone can relate to. Fantastic Job.
Cellarscape’s ‘Animation, Suspension’ – a symphony for today's music lover. Alternative rock. Experimental. Groundbreaking. Run… get it… play it over and over. Lyrics can be found at http://www.sbrecords.co.uk/ – definitely go check the lyrics out for yourself. They are unforgettable.
What Cellarscape have done with 'Animation, Suspension’ is take the unspoken, unwritten rule book of acoustic indie rock and bend the rules, then throw the rule book out completely. The 15 songs on this album are an experiment to push the boundaries of what exactly can be done with instruments, a bit of bravery, and a good helping of talent.
This willingness to experiment with musical form and arrangement has led to a moment of brilliance. The opening song, 'Crawlspace', is a masterpiece of simplicity, it has a form that is so basic, that if Cellarscape had had no intellect behind their songwriting it could have gone horribly wrong. Then, later on, in keeping with the spirit of the album, Cellarscape takes the concept further with 'December Moon', which is entirely a cappella.
Cellarscape also show an ability to produce songs that have the potential to be stand-alone single releases, 'Target Acquired' and 'You Got The Girl' being the most obvious examples.
So to sum up, especially with the fast approaching word count: 'Animation, Suspension': poetry in motion.
"'Crawlspace' begins the album with a bleak outlook, but as if making amends for kicking you down, 'Target Acquired' holds out a hand to lift you back up again. This is the general theme for the remainder of the album – a roller coaster ride of emotional ups and downs.
This is not an album that aims to be comfortable listening, it sets out to be thoughtful and stir the emotions – even the more upbeat songs speak of some torment.
This is a great, meaningful album which really achieves."
Andrew Venning - CSR 97.4FM (Aug 10, 2009)
Cellarscape has been the musical moniker for Paul Terry since 2003. Based mostly in London, since 1999 PT has been busy composing soundtracks for the films of British writer/director Paul Williams. The award-winning short film ‘Mightier’ in 2001 and the feature film ‘The Wake’ in 2006 are peaks in PT’s professional career. Recently, a song from ‘The Wake’ was even used for the 2009 Empire Film Awards. Besides his musical projects, Paul is also the editor of ‘Lost: The Official Magazine’.
‘Copilot’, Cellarscape’s debut EP in 2006, was rapidly succeeded a year later by another EP, ‘Fifth Phoenix’ – a much more progressive record than its predecessor. In scarcely a few years, ‘Animation, Suspension’ marks PT’s seventh release, and this new record is 15 of his best songs.
He is a true singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist, looking after the vocals, guitars, drums, percussion, and samples on every song. Only Niki Jones accompanies him on bass for 10 of the songs, with James Bellamy bringing a crisp piano to ‘Punchlines’.
The mysterious ‘The Creek’, the metallic punch brought by ‘Bled Out’, and the acoustic ‘Patience & Zara’ are some of the many highlights. On ‘December Moon’, PT only accompanies himself with his heavenly voice, and first single ‘You Got The Girl’ comes with heavy drums alternating with a great guitar riff. This is alternative and acoustic rock that will not only tempt the young folks.”
"I honestly love this album – it’s something that everyone should listen to from beginning to end, and just playing one song doesn’t do it justice. Do yourself a favour – get it, listen to it from beginning to end, and you’re gonna love it."
"Cellarscape's first full-length offering does not disappoint as it takes the listener on an emotional journey through a montage of brilliant hooks, intoxicating tones and powerful vocals. When the train finally comes to a stop, unlike other musical trips you may have been on, with this one you remember everything you saw, everything you heard and, more importantly, everything you felt. Terry puts a lot of, if not all of, himself into this recording and it shows."
"This full-length follows on from Cellarscape's first two EPs and sees the one-man band really up the ante on the eclectic 15 tracks offered here.
The lilting acoustic opener of 'Crawlspace' provides an eerie entrance. Some tracks are stripped down and some multi-layered with a rhythm section, others have looping guitars effects and orchestration, which creates a diverse palette of aural delight.
'Bled Out''s post-grunge fuzz is an anthemic highlight, as is the Dashboard Confessional feel of single 'You Got The Girl'.
This is an absorbing listen. Cellarscape could aspire to give Onelinedrawing or Kevin Devine a run for their money."
4 out of 5
Miles Hackett - Big Cheese Magazine (Jul 1, 2009)
"'Animation, Suspension' is the first long player release by music maker Paul Terry, better known as Cellarscape. Featuring 15 tracks that draw from a variety of different influences and styles, 'Animation, Suspension' is an album that thinks outside the box but has enough mainstream subtleties to tempt even the most genre-conscious music fan.
Opening track 'Crawlspace' leads you to believe that 'Animation ,Suspension' is going to be a low-fi trip through acoustic guitars and placid vocals from start too finish. The second track 'Target Acquired' quickly disabuses you of that notion. It’s a louder, edgier track with an uplifting chorus offset by a darker verse.
'Animation, Suspension' takes you on an emotional rollercoaster, from the soaring melody of 'Gravity Can’t Swim' through the indie-popesque hands in the air 'Shadowfight' and the crushing heartbreak of 'Punchlines'.'December Moon' adds gravity to the album and shows the range of Terry’s vocal ability, but the highlight of the album for me has to be the somewhat understated 'Patience & Zara'.
"Overall, 'Animation, Suspension' is a first-rate debut that has a diverse ability to appeal to music fans across genres."
"Crushing. Absorbing. Gentle. Uplifting. Relentless. Awesome."
Steve McCormick - BBC Radio Kent