Where Stalks the Sandman:: (Noh Poetry)

A collection of six dark ambient tracks spread over almost 72
minutes. Some tracks are more dark than others. Kim Cascone
sets the tone with a track that sounds like the echoes of a great
industrial complex, drones and ringing tones from the memories of
obsolete machinery. It creates a decidedly uneasy atmosphere.
Unsettlingly good. Monocaine continues in the same vein with a
two-part track that evokes images of a star ship freighter lost in an
asteroid field. That, or some great lonely monster stalking a
labyrinthic set of underground corridors. Steven Wilson
follows on a lighter note, a set of sprawling echoes and reverbs that
sounds more like may meadows and sparse forests than industrial
warehouses. The second half of the compilation is less impressive.
These tracks, one of which is a 26 minute Don Falcone piece
built around a 1 kHz tone, seem more interested in exploring
computerized audio tools and plug-ins than creating an interesting
ambiance. Still, looking past the dodgy compilation title and cover
typeface, this is a good collection of (dark) ambient tunes.