Finnish ambient project Somnivore has been around a couple of years. Before this album on the new Finnish label Anima Arctica, the strictly limited demo 1818-1991 was released in 2005, as well as to collaborations with two other artists (Somnivore & Kivelä - Maelström and No Xivic / Somnivore - Getsemane) and contributions to compilations. I had heard the track "Sought by few, scared by many [Karelia, 1818]" already, which appeared on the We who with music beguile your pilgrimage to the unknown compilation. I thought this was a very good track, and I was therefore looking forward to this album. Clegry of Oneiros exceeded my expectations, though, as it's a very good and varied ambient album with many sounds and unique atmospheres.

The album starts with the calm "Somnivore", a long track with a slow development. New things (bells, effects, samples, etc.) are gradually added and replaced with other elements, which is a nice prelude to the rest of album. The second song is rather short, and it contains whispers and short repeating melody, which is deformed at the end of the track. "Lumi ei einää sula iholleni" is also very good. It contains elements of noise, repeating (low) bells, echoes of conversations and a strange melody, which loops until the music fades into a calm background with whispered voice. "Those Graves Under the Bay of Bothnia" is ominous and strange because of the low melody, and I found that very nice. The last two tracks are slightly different. "Allerleirauh" is a beautiful track with, among other things, deep percussion and (wordless) vocals. Especially in the beginning, the song has something stately about it, and it makes me think of an abandoned monastery, or an old temple in a forest, now overgrown with plants and moss. Further along in the track, the rhythm changes and it ends with different kinds of bells. Very worthwhile. The last track is also the heaviest. It contains samples, industrial-like percussion and noise effects. "Ie Aie Yö" also contains a quote from the 80s fantasy film Ladyhawke. The quote is from the thief Phillipe, who says: "Maybe I'm dreaming. My eyes are open, which means maybe I'm awake dreaming that I'm asleep. Or, or more likely, I'm asleep dreaming that I'm awake wondering if I'm dreaming." This quote fits the music perfectly, which seems to explore the infinity and timelesness of our dreamworlds. The poem "Dreamland" by Lewis Carroll, which is included in the booklet, goes along with this quite well.

Although the tracks all have a distinct character, the music seems to gradually swell, growing fuller and more rhythmic. I think this is a strong point of the album. Another good aspect is the rhythmic and repetitive nature of the music, which lends the tracks a ritualistic character. This is also an album that keeps growing after multiple listens. Somnivore is most definitely a project to keep an eye on. I can recommended this album to anyone who enjoys rich ritualistic ambient.

D.M.K.