Arcadian is the 8th full-length album from Seattle-based electronic-music songwriter/producer Symbion Project aka Kasson Crooker. While previous releases explored chaotic IDM, cinematic downtempo, and classical synthesizer music, Aracadian sees the project nod to electronic-based, beat-driven song structures that draw circles around the world’s more melancholy realities. At its core, the new album is a bittersweet focus on escapism, from the myriad ways our world can both connect and disenchant. Lyrically, the album bookends "Arcadian" and "Mikros Kosmos" explore the desire to leave the complex real-world behind for more tranquil other-worldly places, even with their inevitable loss of identity. Love can bewitch, but just as equally destroy --- and the songs "The Charmed" "Napoleon" and "Stainless Endless Radiance" explore the extents to which this force affects our lives. Interestingly enough, the album's physical presence keeps the escapist concepts rooted in reality. The album’s artwork is layered, lasercut paper geometry over fluid watercolors, where the contrast of the abstract textures are complimented by the organic lighting. Upon listening, one of the striking elements of the album’s densely layered 11 songs are the vocals throughout the album. In addition to vocals from Kasson himself, the album features guest vocals from Seattle composer/sound conjurer Briana Marela (Amiina, múm collaborator signed to Jagjaguwar), Seattle’s Jenni Potts (most recently heard on Odesza’s “White Lies”), Finnish singer Markus Junnikkala (from the band MY), and long-time collaborator Melissa R Kaplan (Splashdown). The album features a handful of additional instrumentalists as well, with classical guitar and french horns adding depth to the layered electronic arrangements. The production also features numerous vintage synthesizers, including an impressive-sounding Moog Modular from the late 1960’s.