As much as I'm loving Epicloud (and that's a lot) I think Epiclouder might be the best part of it. It feels like a sampler with all the varied DTP album vibes (and even Ghost 2), represented both individually and in beautifully overlapping ways. I think it's bloody fantastic and I'm having trouble picking a favourite track.

It's really telling that Townsend can toss off a 'bonus disc' with material that other bands could spend their whole careers trying to achieve.

See, I had that same opinion with (half) of Ghost 2. Radial Highway and Watch You made Ghost less engaging in comparison. With Epiclouder, it's the same except there's a more diverse collection.

I think I prefer Epicloud over Epiclouder, but that's like saying I prefer triple chocolate ice cream cake over double chocolate mint chip ice cream cake.

See, I had that same opinion with (half) of Ghost 2. Radial Highway and Watch You made Ghost less engaging in comparison. With Epiclouder, it's the same except there's a more diverse collection.

Yeah! I think I appreciated Ghost more after I heard Ghost 2, and the same seems to be happening with Epicloud / Epiclouder. In his solo stuff / DTP, Townsend has always been very good at balancing the different moods and emotions within the album experience -- except for Ghost and Epicloud, where the 'dark side' is relegated to the bonus tracks only. So listening to Epiclouder makes Epicloud feel complete.

I really don't know what's 'demo' about these tracks, also. They seem pretty fleshed-out to me, with developed structures and all little subtleties and layers you can pick up after multiple listens. This could easily have been a whole new album. And I love the breadth of it -- SYL-thrash-industrial, '80s-style melodic metal solos (!), fireside folk singalongs, road-trip country twang, breezy electronic pop, driving bass stompers, the works. Constant curveballs, expertly thrown. Love it.

See, I had that same opinion with (half) of Ghost 2. Radial Highway and Watch You made Ghost less engaging in comparison. With Epiclouder, it's the same except there's a more diverse collection.

Yeah! I think I appreciated Ghost more after I heard Ghost 2, and the same seems to be happening with Epicloud / Epiclouder. In his solo stuff / DTP, Townsend has always been very good at balancing the different moods and emotions within the album experience -- except for Ghost and Epicloud, where the 'dark side' is relegated to the bonus tracks only. So listening to Epiclouder makes Epicloud feel complete.

I really don't know what's 'demo' about these tracks, also. They seem pretty fleshed-out to me, with developed structures and all little subtleties and layers you can pick up after multiple listens. This could easily have been a whole new album. And I love the breadth of it -- SYL-thrash-industrial, '80s-style melodic metal solos (!), fireside folk singalongs, road-trip country twang, breezy electronic pop, driving bass stompers, the works. Constant curveballs, expertly thrown. Love it.

I think theey're fully developed songs, they just didn't get the full mastering/production treatment.

[Octillus]

The production kinda reminds me of terria though

hopefully this is for sure. I gave him the heads up on twitter and he says he's checking on it.

C

Can we talk about this? Holy shit.
13/10. Not that this matters to me, but it's also definitely the heavier of the two.

Anyway, this is its own thread, because frankly I feel like Epiclouder has more identity as an individual album than Ghost 2 ever did (non-completion aside).

And yes, the gaps between tracks are confirmed as being on the CD.

The production kinda reminds me of terria though

a terria with a nice sounding kick drum. but i know exactly what u mean

hopefully this is for sure. I gave him the heads up on twitter and he says he's checking on it.

C

Can we talk about this? Holy shit.
13/10. Not that this matters to me, but it's also definitely the heavier of the two.

Anyway, this is its own thread, because frankly I feel like Epiclouder has more identity as an individual album than Ghost 2 ever did (non-completion aside).

And yes, the gaps between tracks are confirmed as being on the CD.

I'm going to wait and see until I get my copy of Epiclouder and FLAC it. I've never had a FLAC album with any gaps in it, and I don't expect this to be different.

I

Does anyone get a whiff of Every Breath You Take by The Police at the start of Quietus?

I

Could you not just ignore his interviews!? I'm not being smart, if I was bothered by his album ideas/statements I think ignoring him would solve much of the problem.

Maybe you

Not bad, not bad.

...Thanks to hunter_mc for doing all the hard work.

[Octillus]

hopefully this is for sure. I gave him the heads up on twitter and he says he's checking on it.

C

Can we talk about this? Holy shit.
13/10. Not that this matters to me, but it's also definitely the heavier of the two.

Anyway, this is its own thread, because frankly I feel like Epiclouder has more identity as an individual album than Ghost 2 ever did (non-completion aside).

And yes, the gaps between tracks are confirmed as being on the CD.

I'm going to wait and see until I get my copy of Epiclouder and FLAC it. I've never had a FLAC album with any gaps in it, and I don't expect this to be different.

All I can say is that my buddy Jon bought it in San Francisco for me, ripped it and sent me a copy before sending me the album in the mail (hasn't arrived yet). He's an audio bro, and he said they are present in the disk. That's enough for me to trust this as fact.