VAST – Visual Audio Sensory Theater Review
Jon Crosby is known for many pseudonyms but perhaps the one he is best known for is VAST. After signing with the record label Elektra, Crosby began work on his first full length album named after the bands acronym; Visual Audio Sensory Theater. Released in 1998, it holds its own against the test of time with ease, even surpassing (quality wise) many industrial rock compilations released in recent memory. It’s dark and it’s morbid but most of all, its honest. At first glance it can sound overwhelming, but the album takes full advantage of a wide range of melodies, rhythm and vocal experimentation that almost dares you to continue listening.
It begins with an orchestral beginning with ‘Here’ that quickly transitions into a standard rock song; one that seems to question the truth in a person or people. The tracks following however set the real ambience until the very end. Chanting from the female Bulgarian Vocal choir Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares, in songs such as ‘Touched’, ‘Dirty Hole’ and ‘Temptation’ are one of the true bright spots. The other is facilitated by the Benedictine Monks of the Abbey of Saint-Maurice and Saint Maur, Cleraux, who backup vocalist Jon Crosby in a haunting manner in songs such as ‘Dirty Hole’ , ‘The Niles Edge’ and ‘You’. Together, both groups bring unbelievable choruses to songs with serious questions. Separate they can make each song sound refreshing and avoid repetition.
Crosby is not without a few tricks up his own sleeve. Beyond the use of a full eighteen piece orchestra, beyond the assistance of a Grammy nominated cellist, lays the real steak and potatoes, the lyrics. Deep and open to interpretation the lyrics deliver the brutal honesty of people. We can love (Touched), we can hate (Pretty When You Cry), and we can even revel in our successes (Three Doors). But no matter what, we are human (You) and we question our own faith and existence at one time or another. Is it a bold statement? Perhaps, but to each his own and that may be one of the greatest aspects you can keep after listening to these tracks in depth. Life can be difficult, experiences and moments in time come and go but the uncertainty always remains in the undertow. The album feels like Crosby is attempting to answer his own questions of faith and religion. This is evident in many reoccurring references of god and loss.
VAST has been compared to many mainstream industrial rock groups such as Stabbing Westward and Nine Inch Nails. They exist underneath them in popularity alone. The low sales of their second album ‘Music for People’ caused Elektra Records to terminate their contract and inspired Crosby to start his own independent label 2Blossoms. Since the debut of Visual Audio Sensory Theater in 1998, VAST has released four albums with a fifth entitled ‘Me and You’ to be released this spring. Due to the nature of a small independent label, Crosby began distributing his music via digital downloads in 2004.
Visual Audio Sensory Theater can sound dark and depressing but there is genuine beauty in the sadness; it exists and is a part of life. To ignore it would mean to be three quarters of the way dead. Vocal support does an excellent job of delivering the somber tone and the literal one man band of Jon Crosby demonstrates that experimentation can yield positive results. Each track is merely a moment in time that tells part of the story. The ending of which, is filled by you, the listener.
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