It's not anything inventive or even the slightest bit original, but Spells is a well done modern classical project nonetheless, with a sound pleasing to the ears and small little progressions that keep it from becoming a snooze. For instance, the first couple of tracks and the better part of the third follow a strict formula of letting single piano chords ring out until the stanza repeats itself, with slight ambient sounds and light string instrumentation backing it up. This does give way, finally, to a faster pace, a more upbeat mood, and even some minimalist electronic beats that help pick up the second half of the album. The problem of the album lies in its derivative nature, and while it is pleasing on the surface, it doesn't yield much at all on consecutive listens. Lack of depth aside, Spells is a nice-sounding modern classical album that serves very well as study music to boot.
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