Experimental Music Reviews Part 2 9/4/2010

Secret Druid Society- Restless-CD (First Fallen Star)

This is what I remember from amazing dark ambient artist from the 90's on labels like Hypnos, Soleilmoon, CMI and Dark Vinyl... The Ebb and Flow of the drift building into some darkened dimension we has humans never really know. How can you Explore it if you can't see it or understand it. The Music from Secret Druid Society is just that its the sounds and feelings of pre music. When the world has at it growning pains and they way it will be at the end of day. The story line for restless is the human race is gone and Mother earth continues of its journey of evolution and growth. She doesn't need us the world will not bring in the next beast to roam its grounds . More then most likely better then we ever did. Restless is haunting and relaxing at the same time. I really miss artist like this slowly adding soundscapes and building waves of dark ritualistic sounds into a shear masterpiece for those that will take the time to let the soundtrack expand and become complete. Bands like Secret Druid Society you can not rush and that is the best part of it all. Mood music is finally back...

http://www.firstfallenstar.com/



Locrian- The Crystal World- DCD (U-TECH Records)

So with each release Locrian becomes more sinster , more mysterious, more experimental and just down right more interesting. If you have a love for artists like Lustmord, Bohren & Der Club of Gore and Ulver then my friends you will have to run out and get this release in november when it releases. It start out dark and minimalists builds into a more Rocking Ulver or Tehni sounding Ethno experimental rock album and has all the Post rock trapping there earlier albums do there is a strong of Godspeed your black emperor, Isis and Russian Circles for good measure esp in the Guitar and Percussion on the way it sonically becomes a noise rock band in the most minimal of means.. If Locrian ever comes close to were I'm at the band knows I'll be there. They impress me this much. I mean this in the most brilliant of way's too if Dan Swano or Devin Townsend made post rock music it would sound like this as the aggression would still have to be there.. Yet with Locrian is so subdued is agonizingly breath taking. This group just makes me want to hear more and more always.. I can't want to see what the real artwork and packaging looks like to fit in the double release of massive talent..

http://utechrecords.com/




Del Ray-Immemorial-CD (At a Loss)

Sometime Post Rock music is just beautiful at its most basic at other times the layers of the whole are what make the travels of a release the reason you keep coming back for more and more. With Del Ray they blur the line with Power and Delicate Passion of the art they are creating. If you like the old guard of Post Rock Mogwai, June of 44, Rodan, Circle and Gybe then this is going to floor you in the textures and layers of guitars , warn bass and some very progressive drumming going on here. I think Del Ray would actually have an added bonus even more if there were string in the tracks... The remind me music sometimes is just music and need to be felt and loved at its most simple of levels . At a loss with Del Ray have found a classic Post rock outfit in the making. I know they have been around over a dozen yrs and all but with of friends like Bob Weston of Shellac and Jason Ward this albums sound is so rich and just amazing to listen to. Del Ray make heartbreaking music and for me there is not more we need then real emotion in music.

http://www.atalossrecordings.com/




Phaenon- "His Master's Voice"-CD (Malignant Records)

So I got a good bag of several releases from Mr Mantis/ Malignant.. 1st up is Phaenon I remember the last release well as it was a Dark Ambient Journey in to the more spacial side of the craft.. Phaenon still reminds me very much of Arecibo in they arrangement and style of the sounds we have going on. The Cold and Icy drones and drifts going on work very very well with the deeper pulse and distant rumbles that interplay with the flowing tracks. There are moments of digital and electronic harsher loops but they never over power the main core sound of Phaenon mission . I which I think its to explore the galaxies for life and sounds outside our earth to prove once and for all we are not alone. The artwork is a brilliant glossy six panel digipak and the audio was mastered by J Stilling of S.H.P member also part on the Malignant family. His Master Voice is an adventure into the grey realm of Dark experimental aural arts and glad for one to have heard it..

http://www.malignantrecords.com/




Wolfskin feat. Last Industrial Estate - Stonegates of Silence-CD (Malignant Records)

And the story comes to close for the force that is Wolfskin.. Stonegates of Silence is one fucking creepy sonic soundscape. It's actually very atonal in the approach that is coming across. Almost like you have just entered the realm of the dead and not really sure if your suppose to be there or if you actually are one of the rare living that can pass into that realm. This whole release is making the hair stand up on the back of my neck. As Malignant lets you clearly know that Wolfskin does not go out with a bang. They go out with a frosty and Icy glaring approach to a world that Wolfskin feel very detached from and are happy to no longer have to deal with. I wonder what new compositions the members of Wolfskin will bring us in future releases only time will tell. I will end the review with this. 15 yrs of strong material we thank you for and I hope for 15 more from the next stage of your musical journeys..

http://www.malignantrecords.com



Yen Pox- Blood Music-DCD (Reissue) (Malignant Records)

Ok so if you don't know who Yen Pox is your either a teen getting into dark ambient for the 1st time or been listening to nothing but mainstream music all your life. As there is not much to say they are one of the driving forces why the word Dark Ambient and that this form on audio art is here today this is there classic release from 15 yrs ago with a 2nd CD of tape and comp releases that are out of print as well. Haunting, Epic, Frightening, Cryptic, Massive, Pulsing, Occultish and such down right fantastic. Right down to the stellar productions even 15 yrs later Blood music is just as it sounds music to crawl into your very blood stream and leave you with the dark ambient itch for ever.. With Yen Pox I warn you this is not for the casual listener that thinks creepy Halloween music is fun to listen to in October. If you light some candles go into a dark room and close your eyes press play Blood Music is going to alter your thoughts and they way you look at music production and sound forever... The elements of Ethno, Drone, Doom, Industrial, Drift and Soundscapes is all there and its up to you to unlock its magic...

http://www.malignantrecords.com