Robert Scott Thompson
Frontier
The sound of an alien swamp is what comes to mind as I listen to ‘Cloud Fragments’, certainly not fluffy cotton wool. Images of mist and strange slithering creatures abound. Vast clanging bells is the choice of beginning for ‘Lumina’. The atmosphere created is one of darkness and loss. We then move on to very deep synth rumblings though the bells keep making a reappearance. Certainly not a happy track. ‘Frontier’ is next and things get darker still. The level of bass on the drones during this album is positively subterranean. Played loud enough it would cause a tidal wave. If you are into the sort of ambient music found on the Fathom label you will love this. Played with the lights out it would be bound to give you the creeps.

‘A magma of Interiours’ is not quite as sonically intense as its predecessor but it is still fairly dark. Strange percussion effects punctuate the bleak soundstage as if some deformed blacksmith is hammering away at an underground anvil. If you did have the light out and you haven’t put it back on by now you are a much braver person than I. Faint cries of drowned souls can just be heard amongst the rather sparse backing in ‘Submerged’ but then we move into territories of sound that are so deep my speakers could hardly cope. The cries return and take us to ‘Fragile Light’ which as its title suggests is a delicate piece but no less dark. Its a bit like walking a tightrope whilst blindfolded, wobbling as you move forward, constantly adjusting your balance as faint breezes try to blow you off into the abyss below. A swarm of insects and sonic booms can be heard on‘Visage Spectral’ all underpinned by cavernous synth pads, a faint unintelligible voice giving some colour. We then get what could almost be described as a melody, but only just. ‘Whisper Out of Time’ is a rather sparse affair but this sparseness is used to create mystery and longing. A similar feeling permeates ‘Nine Chains to the Moon’ though the sound is fuller. ‘Nirhoda’ is an ever shifting piece, at one moment almost light and then the next back into the dark. ‘Nightfall’ is another piece with a gentle melodic quality and sums up the images created by the title superbly. Finally we get ‘Bricolage’ which has the first discernible rhythm on the album.

We are in similar territory to the Ma Ja Le album, also on the Mirage label I reviewed recently. In fact that album and this are probably my favourites on the label. (DL)

This page is part of a frame set. If you can't see the information strip to the left of the screen then click on the smd logo above.