TUU & Nick Parkin Terma

Being on the Fathom label will be enough for many to make it a must buy. Fathom specialises in Dark Ambient / Space Music. The first track ‘Djinn’, however, is a rhythmic affair. A superb, and to me, unique drum sound drives the piece forward. It is a bit like a kettle drum but with a real twang to the end. The effect is captivating. Delicate atmospherics can be heard very low underneath but such is the skill of the composers that they really hold the attention. ‘Water Memory’ again makes use of that wonderful drum though this time slower and less insistent. Under the drum, synth textures play with percussion and later on the sound of a flute, very relaxing stuff. Both high pitched and bass drones herald the start of ‘Magus’. A lonesome flute is the main feature though the ringing of a bell makes an appearance from time to time. ‘Ghosts in the Landscape’ provides a different combination of what has gone before, the drum sound, more lonesome flute and synth drones but this time with a different rhythmic effect pulsating along in the background. This piece is so atmospheric you could almost touch it. The title track is next and it is even spookier than the last number. The synth textures are eerie enough but then comes a drone that appears as if it is created by the wind blowing over taught wires. The underlying sound field becomes more complex and louder then we get what sounds like beetles crawling through a sodden, leafy forest floor. For ambient music fans this is a real must. ‘Plateau’ sees the return of the flute this time accompanied by rattle backed by even darker synth atmospherics. ‘Serpent Fire’ uses a similar formula but with the addition of gong drones, a great track to finish a superb ambient album. (DL)

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