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This here is the first release by the Italian Glacial Movements label, founded to provide us with arctic and isolationist soundscapes. This should be sufficient to indicate that if you're not into minimalist ambient, you'd best stay away. If you do fancy a bit of icy void-gazing now and then, however, this might be something for you.
This compilation contains a mixture of (to me) well known and lesser known artists. Closing The Eternity hails from Russia, and opens the CD with a quite enjoyable mix of gloomy water sounds, jew's harp-like drones and various other effects. A layered and well produced track. Northaunt needs little introduction, in my opinion (see the review of Horizons). The aptly named "Crocker Land" (an arctic region) is a beautiful, high-pitched track, featuring the characteristic Northaunt atmosphere. It truly feels as if you're out there, underneath the clouds, while the world is frozen over. THO-SO-AA's "Cryotesk" is also very enjoyable. Dark, but open-sounding drones with what sounds like a sonar pulse on the foreground. Lightwave is a long-standing (since 1985) ensemble from France, who also come with a well-crafted, but inconspicuous track. The same goes for Tuu's "Silent Writing", which is well-made, but not very special. German duo Troum is also a project that needs relatively little introdutction. The track present here is created from the combination of field recordings and various instruments. Somehow, it lacks something that could have made this longest track more interesting, and more fitting with the general atmosphere of the album. "Beneath the ice" by Canadian multi-talent Aidan Baker is a very pleasant, soothing track with a subtle development, which, however, would have benefited from a little more variation. Netherworld is the project by the man behind Glacial Movements. "KRYOS" is also a good track, with some nice sounds, but at this point the CD is getting rather long. The final track is "Cold Sun" by the Italian project Oöphoi, which is short but good, with an atmosphere that reminds me a bit of Svartsinn.
All in all, this compilation contains some good ambient material, but it is also rather long. Because of this, the first three tracks really stand out, and after that, my attention starts to drift a bit. I guess this is a combination of the nature of these tracks and the length of the album. The first three tracks also fit the best with my personal interpretation of 'glacial' ambient, and I'd say that these are the most succesful. This CD is probably too minimalistic for many listeners, and it is a bit trying for a moderately experienced listener as myself, as well. Nevertheless, die hard lovers of a particularly bleak and cold style of ambient should be very pleased with this compilation.
O.S.
This compilation contains a mixture of (to me) well known and lesser known artists. Closing The Eternity hails from Russia, and opens the CD with a quite enjoyable mix of gloomy water sounds, jew's harp-like drones and various other effects. A layered and well produced track. Northaunt needs little introduction, in my opinion (see the review of Horizons). The aptly named "Crocker Land" (an arctic region) is a beautiful, high-pitched track, featuring the characteristic Northaunt atmosphere. It truly feels as if you're out there, underneath the clouds, while the world is frozen over. THO-SO-AA's "Cryotesk" is also very enjoyable. Dark, but open-sounding drones with what sounds like a sonar pulse on the foreground. Lightwave is a long-standing (since 1985) ensemble from France, who also come with a well-crafted, but inconspicuous track. The same goes for Tuu's "Silent Writing", which is well-made, but not very special. German duo Troum is also a project that needs relatively little introdutction. The track present here is created from the combination of field recordings and various instruments. Somehow, it lacks something that could have made this longest track more interesting, and more fitting with the general atmosphere of the album. "Beneath the ice" by Canadian multi-talent Aidan Baker is a very pleasant, soothing track with a subtle development, which, however, would have benefited from a little more variation. Netherworld is the project by the man behind Glacial Movements. "KRYOS" is also a good track, with some nice sounds, but at this point the CD is getting rather long. The final track is "Cold Sun" by the Italian project Oöphoi, which is short but good, with an atmosphere that reminds me a bit of Svartsinn.
All in all, this compilation contains some good ambient material, but it is also rather long. Because of this, the first three tracks really stand out, and after that, my attention starts to drift a bit. I guess this is a combination of the nature of these tracks and the length of the album. The first three tracks also fit the best with my personal interpretation of 'glacial' ambient, and I'd say that these are the most succesful. This CD is probably too minimalistic for many listeners, and it is a bit trying for a moderately experienced listener as myself, as well. Nevertheless, die hard lovers of a particularly bleak and cold style of ambient should be very pleased with this compilation.
O.S.