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Reviews

Emily A. Sprague — Cyano
(RVNG Intl. RVNGNL64, 2026, CD / LP / DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2026-10-16

Cyano Cover art

On the gentler side of experimental music, we find Emily A. Sprague, who also fronts a band called Florist. Cyano finds her creating music using modular synthesizers and her voice, and the result is a charming and meditative set of fourteen tracks that range from near-ambient washes to lightly swaying rhythms built of unusual textures. When she sings, her voice has a breathy sound that lends a real feeling of intimacy to the music. She’s not interested in catchy hooks or energetic beats, but the interesting overtones produced by her synths. Historically, it feels like a descendent of Cluster’s early work, and before that the piano music of Erik Satie. The tracks are like vignettes, most in the two to three minute range, with only one running over five minutes. I’ll admit to preferring the tracks where she works up rhythmic grooves, like “Double Moon,” “Rising,” and “Noon Liquid Ore,” but the floating pieces provide lovely contrasts, and each is built from different sounds. “Under Tone” is an odd one out, with strange sounds resembling processed drums rather than synthesizers, but given the flexibility of modular synth systems, who knows how she did it? Cyano is an antidote to the bustle and hassle of the everyday world, and a reminder that experimentation doesn’t have to be complex or confrontational.

Filed under: New releases, 2026 releases

Related artist(s): Emily A. Sprague

More info
http://mlesprg.bandcamp.com/album/cyano

 

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