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Swedish artist Gustaf Hildebrand makes dark ambient that is comparable to that of other Nordic dark ambient artists on the Cyclic Law label, such as Northaunt and Svartsinn. The atmosphere on this album is dystopic, very dark, forlorn, but not particularly scary or ominous. It has more of the beauty that lies in emptiness, the presence of a higher power that is just beyond your understanding. Or, as the title suggests, the feeling of a desolate world, with an echo of what once was.
The CD starts with "Omega Continuum", a song with different layered waves, and few other sounds. A nice introduction to the rest of the album. Following is my personal favourite, "Post Oblivion Fields", which in the beginning reminds me of the sound recordings NASA made of outer space. The track slowly develops, and bells and dripping water are added. A very dark and layered track that stays fascinating. "The Hollow Structures" is a pretty traditional dark ambient track, with more layered waves en later in the song grinding and creaking sounds, the rattle of chains en the laughter of a child that turns into crying. "Omnivoid" goes well with this, with a threatening foundation and here and there some rhythmic touches. A song that reminds me of the stripped-down sound of Northaunt. "Ruins of a Failed Utopia" is the odd one out on the album. Because of the monk's chants further on in the track, it reminds me a lot of Raison d'être (think of songs such as "In Lonelienes" or "In Abandoned Places"). Despite this similarity, I think this is a beautiful, moody and varied track. The album closes with the minimalistic "Wanderer of Strange Spheres". An atmospheric track with echoing drones and misty soundscapes, and later on church bells resounding vaguely in the distance.
Despite similarities with aforementioned artists, I think that Gustaf Hildebrand very much has an appealing style of his own. Most tracks are rather minimalistic, but they contain enough variation to stay interesting. The tracks also fit together very well atmospherically. If you have no problems with the bleak, negative ambient that represents Cyclic Law, Primordial Resonance is very much worth listening.
D.M.K.
The CD starts with "Omega Continuum", a song with different layered waves, and few other sounds. A nice introduction to the rest of the album. Following is my personal favourite, "Post Oblivion Fields", which in the beginning reminds me of the sound recordings NASA made of outer space. The track slowly develops, and bells and dripping water are added. A very dark and layered track that stays fascinating. "The Hollow Structures" is a pretty traditional dark ambient track, with more layered waves en later in the song grinding and creaking sounds, the rattle of chains en the laughter of a child that turns into crying. "Omnivoid" goes well with this, with a threatening foundation and here and there some rhythmic touches. A song that reminds me of the stripped-down sound of Northaunt. "Ruins of a Failed Utopia" is the odd one out on the album. Because of the monk's chants further on in the track, it reminds me a lot of Raison d'être (think of songs such as "In Lonelienes" or "In Abandoned Places"). Despite this similarity, I think this is a beautiful, moody and varied track. The album closes with the minimalistic "Wanderer of Strange Spheres". An atmospheric track with echoing drones and misty soundscapes, and later on church bells resounding vaguely in the distance.
Despite similarities with aforementioned artists, I think that Gustaf Hildebrand very much has an appealing style of his own. Most tracks are rather minimalistic, but they contain enough variation to stay interesting. The tracks also fit together very well atmospherically. If you have no problems with the bleak, negative ambient that represents Cyclic Law, Primordial Resonance is very much worth listening.
D.M.K.