Sanctuary
With Sanctuary, sound artist and composer Marc Neys invites the listener on a deeply personal and introspective journey. The album—composed and recorded at Neys’ home studio throughout 2024—acts as both a sonic refuge and a mirror, reflecting the complex, often elusive search for inner stillness.
At its heart, Sanctuary explores the idea of a space—physical or mental—where one can engage in honest dialogue with the self. For some, such places might be found in the hushed reverence of a church or the quiet permanence of a cemetery, for others, in the open solitude of the natural world. But Sanctuary also acknowledges the difficulty of this search. Beneath the album’s seemingly meditative surface lies a subtle tension, an undercurrent that hints at the restlessness and resistance that can accompany such quests.
Built on layered drones, fleeting percussion, airy melodies, fragments of piano, and richly textured field recordings, the album moves like a single long breath across ten seamlessly woven tracks. Neys constructs shifting sound patterns—overlapping, dissolving, re-emerging—that evoke a place just beyond reach, both familiar and strange. The music never settles entirely, instead inviting the listener to move closer, to listen deeper, to stay present.
Sanctuary is not a destination—it is an invitation. A liminal space. A meditative trip that resists easy comfort while offering moments of stillness and clarity to those willing to dwell within its fragile balance.
Tracklisting:
- Enter
- Twelve Doors
- Fossick
- Shot Through with Black Tissues
- The Hill Wants to be A Mountain
- Behind Door Nr. 5
- The Window Dissolves Bit by Bit
- With a Glow of Remorse
- Behind Door Nr. 12
- Exhale into the Black Tissues
Marc Neys
Marc Neys is a multifaceted artist based in the serene countryside of Bazel, Belgium. As a painter, composer, and videopoet, Neys has carved a unique niche that blends visual art with evocative soundscapes and poetic storytelling. With a passion for exploring the interplay between different artistic mediums, he has released several albums that showcase his innovative approach to composition and narrative. His paintings often reflect the same emotional depth found in his music, inviting viewers to engage with the world through a lens of introspection and beauty. Neys’s videopoetry further expands his artistic repertoire, merging visuals and text in a dynamic format that captivates audiences.
Over the years, Marc has built a diverse portfolio that highlights his commitment to creativity and expression. His work has garnered recognition both online and in various festivals or exhibitions.In a world where art can be both a refuge and a commentary, Neys continues to push boundaries, inviting us all to experience the rich tapestry of life through his eyes.
Reviews
Silence and Sound
Sanctuary , the new opus by Marc Neys , is a painting with multiple layers of sound, a constellation of organic fragments transforming into subliminal auditory extravagances.
The melodies seem to emerge from universes shattered by the immensity of creativity, clusters of ideas meeting above northern lights and soon-to-be-fantasized glaciers.
Life flows slowly, between lines of music set inside illustrated logbooks.
Narratives move in the space they seek to form, moments suspended between silk threads of present fragility. The future is written in transparent letters, a treasure trove for ecstatic ghosts.
Sanctuary leaves its mark on powdery ground, swept by a light breath, releasing spirals of existence enveloped in fragility. Magic.
Original > HERE