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Reviews ...
There was so much material submitted for volume 2 of this series that they couldn't fit it all on the planned
two CD set. They therefore decided to take all the more 'ambient' tracks to one side and place them on an
album of their own. What's more they are all cross-faded together to make one continuous 77-minute piece!
The results are reviewing here.
'The Rapture' by HyperEx Machina mixes mournful dronal backing with equally melancholy piano detail.
The combination of sounds chosen are excellent and it serves as an impressive opening section. We float
into 'Astral Drift' by Astrogator and the mood lightens slightly. It is like looking out from a cliff top with the
wind blowing in your hair- the aftermath of some storm perhaps.
The looped plucked strings of Nick Robinson are next. 'Fur Herr Forcher' certainly sounded experimental
and rather intriguing but for me not an easy listen. 'Out There 2' by Mooch is full of manipulated cosmic
sounds that really get you appropriately 'well out there man'. In the last few minutes there is even a hint
of subtle melody. It is as if familiar sights are being seen again after a long time away from home. Very
impressive indeed. Russell Storey gives us 'Xpanded Heartbeat' and as expected hangs
around a pulse.
It seems to be racing though as if after some great exertion. Ramp are probably the 'biggest' name on
this album and I was expecting (given their current output) something very dark indeed but instead we
get 'Scissors', quite a syncopated number but tremendously subtle with a gorgeous little melodic motif
hanging in the middle a mix also containing restrained contemporary rhythms. It is a superb track that
wouldn't have been out of place on Ian Boddy's DiN label.
Zen Paradox's 'Calvin Analysis' is another track that is far from just giving us drift. A rapidly changing high
register (but also quite quiet) sequence morphs madly all over the place and is soon joined by another
pulsating line. They swirl around each other, coming and going, creating quite a mesmerizing brew. In the
fourth minute a rhythm joins them increasing the complexity of proceedings still further. Personally this is
not what I think of as 'ambient' music at all but a fascinating track nevertheless. 'Darkness is Falling' by
4m33s is much more what I would expect. Mournful, windy drones hang in the air like
spectres from the
abyss. Clusters of notes come from time to time hinting that there is also something else out there.
A slow pulse starts up and the feel is now a little lighter and more optimistic. It is all change again
a couple of minutes later as the spectres return.
'Passion' by Phrozenlight is one seriously spooky five minutes of vast echoing and rumbling dark sonic
emissions. We finish with the humorously titled (well I found it funny!) 'Our Eyes Fixed Forwards We
March Towards the Impending Doom' by Chaos Research. Vast metallic / crystalline tones shimmer
like rays of light refracting through sheets of ice. These mix first with deeper drones then vast rumbles
as if the very earth itself is convulsing. A curious quirky rhythm strikes up combining a deep bass drum
and what sounded like vibes so containing elements of both light and dark-. Strange indeed.
This is an album which contains much more than just 'Deep Ambient Drift'. Sure it isn't as energetic
as Volume 2 but still had enough going on to hold my attention and those more abstract moments were
very well done as well. The cross fading between the tracks and running order were also superbly handled.
David Law / Synth
Music Direct
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