In 2020, Townsend previously likened the forthcoming effort to "an elaborate and much more chilled out" version of his 2004 ambient foray Devlab, but as he shared today on Twitter, it will now feature "two 'scores' that have become a film, 2 albums, and a graphic novel among other things" that he has been at work on for the past six months.
Townsend shared that the "complicated...abstract" Puzzle and its aforementioned pieces are "not 'song oriented,'" but centred around a concept "meant to describe the last year of chaos and the psychological process it required of us all," which is driven by music and visuals.
He explained: "The Puzzle is written to be my version of a soundtrack to a kind of universal experience we've shared I guess...the movie and books we are producing are meant as examples of the concept...as in: 'everybody's puzzle is unique, based on the same experiences,'
My work has always really just been a product of a compulsion to reflect what's going on in my life. If things are chaotic, it's bound to be chaotic. It's been a very bizarre work flow, but it's starting to come together now."
As for the project's musical aspects, Townsend revealed that the two included albums will be called Puzzle and Snuggles, explaining, "Puzzle is chaos and meant to represent the internal dialogue in a fundamentally absurd time, Snuggles is meant to be a beautiful balm that acts as a conclusion and something you can listen to on loop to feel better."
As for a release date, Townsend shared that he will deliver the project to label Century Media in late March, with a release expected "2-3 months later."
Townsend also shared that he is expected to begin work on his "next actual 'album'" this coming August, which is expected in early 2022.
You can find his complete update below.
The concept is meant to describe the last year of chaos and the psychological process it required of us all. The music and visuals act as an analogy for it. The number of people involved (30-40) represents a sort of community amidst it.
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) January 20, 2021
There's two albums: 'Puzzle' is chaos and meant to represent the internal dialogue in a fundamentally absurd time, 'Snuggles' is meant to be a beautiful balm that acts as a conclusion and something you can listen to on loop to feel better. Both have a film.
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) January 20, 2021
The concept of it all, (which I'll explain in Youtube clips pior to the release), is such that I hope it inspires people- if visually inclined- to make their own graphic novels, films, books etc, using the music as a soundtrack.
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) January 20, 2021
The Puzzle is written to be my version of a soundtrack to a kind of universal experience we've shared I guess...the movie and books we are producing are meant as examples of the concept...as in: 'everybody's puzzle is unique, based on the same experiences'
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) January 20, 2021
My work has always really just been a product of a compulsion to reflect what's going on in my life. If things are chaotic, it's bound to be chaotic. It's been a very bizarre work flow, but it's starting to come together now. Delivery date is March 22, release 2-3 months later.
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) January 20, 2021