Aphorism – Surge

[CD, Tympanik Audio]

“Surge” is the debut album from Chicago based Josh Pyle, otherwise known as Aphorism, a word meaning ‘a terse saying embodying a general truth or an astute observation’.  After spending many years on the industrial music scene Pyle’s influences are many and varied, ranging from Wax Trax to Berlin techno to dub and drum ‘n’ bass. Continue reading…

Totakeke – The Things That Disappear When I Close My Eyes

[2CD, Tympanik Audio]

“The Things That Disappear When I Close My Eyes” is the follow-up album to 2008’s “Elekatota – The Other Side of the Tracks” – also on Tympanik Audio – from Frank Mokros, the New York based producer who made several releases on the highly regarded German industrial noise label Hands Productions under the name Synth-etik. Continue reading…

Skare – Solstice City

[CD, Glacial Movements]

“Solstice City” is the debut release by the Swedish duo of Mathias Josefson and Per Ahlund as atmospheric ambient project Skare. The concept behind the album is that it follows a journey from the city to the point where it meets nature. Starting with the short prelude of “To The Other Shore” where the journey begins by boarding a ship to a distant yet unknown destination Continue reading…

Satori – Kanashibari

[CD, Cold Spring Records]

Satori is the duo of Neil Chaney of noise and dark ambient experimental project Pessary and Justin Mitchell, the boss of the Cold Spring Records label.  The CD version of the vinyl album issued in 2007 as a limited edition of 300 hand numbered pressings on the Japanese label Dogma Chase, “Kanashibari” is the Japanese word for ‘sleep paralysis’.  This version of the album also features the bonus track “Pavor Nocturnus” (meaning ‘night terrors’).  Based around the concept of unseen forces at work during the night and the resulting disturbed sleep they bring, “Kanashibari” is naturally dark and foreboding.  Full of deep dark swirling tones, occasional martial rhythms and undecipherable speech, each track exposes a new aspect of the world of night terrors and the inherent fear that darkness can bring.  “Entity” for example takes the subtle route of obscured demonic voices over hazy windswept tones and edgy heartbeat like drums that combine to create a heady air of tension.  Bonus track “Pavor Nocturnus” is subtle in tone but steeped in texture and small nightmarish qualities that build and dissipate like a visitation from the darkest of demons and spectres with bad intent.  The most upbeat of the tracks is “Unseen Force” with its rhythmic martial drums and deep rumbling texture all combining to produce an adrenalin-fuelled rollercoaster ride and the impression of a desperate attempt to escape. Often focusing more on dark disturbing atmosphere and building presence, Satori are well versed in creating absorbing layers of dark sound to depict the mood they want to portray, in this case a sense of oppression, helplessness and despair.

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www.satori.org.uk
www.myspace.com/satoriofficial

www.coldspring.co.uk
www.myspace.com/coldspring

Published on Side-line [April 14th 2009]

Satori – Contemptus Mundi

[CD, Cold Spring Records, 2008]

Released alongside the CD version of Satori’s “Kanashibari” album, “Contemptus Mundi” consists of two tracks; the 26 minute title track and the 20 minute ‘Nameless Wrath Mix’ of the same track.  “Comtemptus Mundi” – literally meaning ‘contempt for the world’ – additionally features the ranting of Magus H Gilmore, High Priest of the Church of Satan, who imparts his opinion of the weakness of the modern world by reciting an extract from the essay “Pervasive Pantywaistism” from his book “The Satanic Scriptures”. Continue reading…