Artist: Devin Townsend Project

CD Review

CD Title: Ki

Record Label: Inside Out Music

By Adam Bowman

When I sat down to experience – and, that's what you do with this album, you experience it – Devin Townsend's “Ki”, I entered with trepidation.  Not as aggressive?  Subdued?  The looking glass appeared very different from even Townsend's instrumental work or his Ocean Machine project.

Consider me ecstatic to report that this album is the perfect way to express how Townsend can do more with a solid rhythm section, one lyric and single-string guitar work (“Winter”).  “Ki” bubbles, sometimes seethes, but almost always finds its center.  A creation that experiences frustration, only to realize serenity begets true happiness.  I sincerely wish Bill Hicks could have heard this one.  This, more than any album produced in years, is truly a ride.

It is, unquestionably, the best overall album of 2009 (thus far) and arguably the most well put-together effort of at least this decade.  Even when the temper is finally lost (“Heaven Send”), it ebbs perfectly and reminds anyone familiar of why they continually gravitate towards Devin's work and offer only the highest praise.

After the first week of sales, Billboard's SoundScan revealed that only 800 purchases (digital and physical) were made.  Get off your ass, people. This deserves your money and your time.  What you experience may well provide the perfect mirror to your everyday life as well as a means to deal with it.