2013-12-05 1:40:58 ¶ ●

Sburb, a solo album composed by Tyler Dever and performed by Erik “Jit” Scheele, loading now.

2013-12-05 4:21:00 ¶ ●

Composed by Tyler Dever. Performed by Erik “Jit” Scheele.

Makes me think of daybreak, of new beginnings. Like a muted, simplified Ranz des Vaches.

2013-12-06 1:40:00 ¶ ●

Composed by Tyler Dever. Performed by Erik “Jit” Scheele.

The transition from The Prelude is ultra smooth, to the point that this may as well be a continuation. There’s no well-defined time, no well-defined measure: it feels professional yet improvised. It’s a style that’s consistent throughout the album.

2013-12-06 4:20:00 ¶ ●

Composed by Tyler Dever. Performed by Erik “Jit” Scheele.

Slow and deliberate on the bass side of the keys, and flighty on the treble side. The rather forceful rendition of Sburban Jungle near the end is a new, unique twist on the motif.

2013-12-07 1:41:00 ¶ ●

Composed by Tyler Dever. Performed by Erik “Jit” Scheele.

Such a simple intro, yet it evokes a melancholic mood as well as anything I’ve heard. My top track for the album.

2013-12-07 4:21:00 ¶ ●

Composed by Tyler Dever. Performed by Erik “Jit” Scheele.

Starts off with a chaotic glissando. I can’t decide whether it has the hallmarks and control of a professional, or if it’s better described as the ham-fisted smashings of a five-year-old. Either way, the melody that follows is austere and catchy.

2013-12-08 1:40:00 ¶ ●

Composed by Tyler Dever. Performed by Erik “Jit” Scheele.

I didn’t really dig Candles and Clockwork on Volume 5: it just felt forced with the synthy choir. But underneath all of that it has a pretty cool melody, and this track’s intro showcases it well. There’s a little more improvization in the second half, and it’s one of the tracks I come back to once in a while on this album.

2013-12-08 4:20:00 ¶ ●

RATING: 7 / 13 – A bit tender for my liking.

Genre varies wildly in the Homestuck catalog, from clean, simple chiptune tracks to epic, solid walls of sound. Sburb strips the music down to its barest.

There aren’t monster hooks or hits to be found. But that’s not what the album’s all about. Of all the compositions released in the library, this is the most cohesive, the one that works best as a single movement. It’s a professional, original recital. And it’s terribly intimate. No booming bass, no complex synth beat-box rhythms. Just one piano.

Usually when I rate music, I listen through once, mark off the songs I like in particular, then put it on continuous play for a while to better shape my opinion. I’ve listened to the album many times, and I find myself lost in the singular 30-minute arrangement each time. There’s no duds, no masterstrokes. Just a fine collection of piano music.

Click here for individual song reviews for Sburb.