Experimental Electronic Music
Like Nazar himself in the lyrics, Demilitarize appears inaccessible at first, using its abstraction and deconstruction as a shield. But a strong light still shines through this shell and sinks in a bit at a time, first with circumspection, then with warmth, until opening itself to repeated listens and blooming in all its beauty and intention.
A convincing album which can easily seduce avid listeners of ritualistic soundscapes where acoustic instrumental elements are melted with ambient-cinematic epicness.
Easily a highlight of the series, the forthcoming compilation finale will include all seven releases rolled up into one high-powered assemblage. Watch out.
The artist’s ability to regulate and crunch such modular mayhem amplifies the pummeling sound-scraping detail of its ten tracks, which are scorched to no end by the overpowering combination of noise and distinct machine rhythms.
Raw Øblations 3: Fed to the Crows is a short sharp shock of an EP by Sombre Lux.
Intentionally multidirectional, incorporating a lot of influences and original elements to deliver something catchy, unsettling, and moodily atmospheric, “[channel]” encompasses a punchy doom-laden hypnotic dancing trip punctuated by ominous ambient textures of sci-fi cinematic quality.
But it’s not all splatter. Soaring synths pierce the darkness with moments of light reminding me to look for that light, follow it down the tracks even as metallic crashes continue to cascade into crumbling piles of rust.
More heavy and power electronics are used as main architecture, punctuated by processed acoustic elements, retro-futurist tribal drums, doom-laden organ chords, micro noises, and nihilistic vocals, wordless and narrated.
The album’s almost cyber-punk and relentlessly austere energy also veers into musical territory inhabited by Ghostly International-signed acts.
As the artists find their comfort zone in an assemblage of mangled industrial, bass, illbient, techno, downtempo, and even dub, Firelands showcases familiar shadows shifting in the dead of night.
A solid package showcasing the artists’ ability to flex and fracture darkened electronics within the constructs of seamless and unexpected ambient voyages.
