dark folk / ethereal

When I see the words "dark folk" in a review submission, my expectation bar often immediately lowers. It's a vague concept, usually evincing an artist with an acoustic guitar and a few computer generated "classical" arrangements, singing about how bad life is and how everything would be a lot better if we lived without technology, like in the days when the lute was the top instrument. I've seen many somnolent Sol Invictus, Rome, Spiritual Front or Der Blutharsch imitations over the years, enough to become extremely cautious about the whole genre. On the other hand, when I see Kratong being mentioned in a biography, that expectation bar gets raised again. I've always regarded Kratong as one of the most interesting acts in this scene. 

Italian dark folk act The Illusion Of Silence has a strong bond with Russia. After cooperating with Russian acts Kratong and Sunset Wings, this one man project now releases his debut full-length, aided by Alex Popov (Sunset Wings) and Johnnie from Kratong. Furthermore, the album is published by Russian label Sulphur Flowers. Finally, and that might be the ultimate reason why this is a highly credible piece of work, the album seems to be almost completely void of electronics. The list of instruments is impressive, ranging from piano over a string quartet to flutes, accordion and harmonica. This acoustic approach is something I can only applaud, obviously.

Most of the songs on this album are piano driven folk ballads, enhanced by strings and clean vocals. They don't have the bombastic atmosphere of most of the most well-known neo-folk acts like Arditi or Death In June but remain on a calm, intimate level. Some of the songs, including 'A Dream Lost Forever' and 'The Old Seaman', could easily be medieval chamber music. I can see this music being played in some castle at the end of another war. Other songs are mystifying, painting a gloomy, nocturnal and almost occult atmosphere. 'I Burnt My Bad Thought ' is one of those strange songs, and so is its follower 'Blooming'.

On the other hand, the cooperation between piano, strings and understated vocals, makes 'While You Were Away' quite a decent pop rock ballad, reminiscent of some works by Nick Cave or Jeff Buckley. That way, this act seems to cross over between modern bardism and medieval inspired neofolk, and that's something I really like. In all, this album is definitely a must-have for all you neofolk fans out there. It's one of the quietest in its genre, rather minimal but beautifully narrative and immersive enough to remain interesting. So check it out, I think we'll be hearing more from this act in the near future.


​Serge

ambient

It's time to forget everything around us and join Markus Sieber and his friends on their journey through beautiful soundscapes. Our raft floats on a tranquil river of Sieber's plucking on the ronroco, a five double-stringed traditional instrument from Argentina. The water sparkles in the sun and we have all the time in the world to enjoy the different landscapes that we're floating through. Those are composed by acoustic guitar, piano, pump organ, violin, cello, percussion, ... but there's also keyboards and subtle electronic effects present. 

'Aukai' translates as 'traveller', and I think that is very well-chosen, not only because Sieber has seen very much of the world. No two compositions sound the same on this album because of the multitude of instruments used. And still, it's a cohesive whole because of the overall fragile and melancholy atmosphere. 

I'm reminded of Mike Oldfield's album 'Voyager' (especially during the second song 'Alto Paraíso'), the vivid lute-playing of Jozef Van Wissem, the intimacy of Olafur Arnalds' music - especially on the track 'Cachoeira', which is the only point where the electronics on 'Aukai' are explicit. But, along with neoclassic lovers, fans of neofolk acts like Dies Natalis or Forseti and those who like new age acts such as Loreena McKennitt and Kitaro should give this album the attention it deserves.


Eline

psychedelic / dark rock / drone 

When this album first came in, I was convinced that it was a noise-rock album. Why? Well, probably because of the bandname. 'Sink' sounds kinda noise-rockey to me, but perhaps that's just me. On the other hand, I think these guys would be perfectly capable of recording a noise-rock album if they wanted to. They don't seem to care about genre boundaries at all. In the past, they have been experimenting with noise, drone, neo-classical and black metal. Now, they take all those experiences to a new level, adding elements from progressive rock, shoegaze, psychedelic folk and ritual dark ambient to their already eclectic mix.

The album suddenly wakes up the goth in me,or at least the goth who likes slow, deep and gloomy music. I'm often reminded of acts like Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (in 'Hunger'), Dead Can Dance or Cocteau Twins (in Pilgrimage' and 'Enchant') or even martial industrial acts like Puissance or Arditi. That being said, 'Dream Map' combines the percussive nature of martial industrial with the dark rock music of acts like Rome or Der Blutharsch. It's followed by the gentle vintage electronics of old school Kraftwerk or Tangerine Dream. Hell, even Pink Floyd seems to be lurking around the corner.

Want more? Well, add psychedelic drone acts like Master Musicians Of Bukkake or Om to the mix and you'll be very close to what you can hear on this brilliant album. In fact, I can help but include Einsturzende Neubauten to the whole thing. Yet, most of all, this simply is a prime example of the things bands are capable of when they go all-out, smash all genre-restrictions and simply do whatever they feel like. Don't let all the names I mentioned stop you from checking out this piece of musical genius. Don't let your opinion on any of these acts affect your desicion to buy it. Just go ahead, engulf yourself in the strange and captivating music of Sink. You'll probably be as stunned as I am right now.


Serge

dark ambient / neo-classical / ethereal

A few months ago I reviewed the previous album by French dark ambient project Day Before Us (read).  Now, after going back to its original one-man formation, the act returns with an album on the well-known dark music label OPN.  In a way, that doesn't surprise me much since both fit very well together as far as atmosphere and quality are concerned.  That being said, yes, this is an excellent album, one of the calmest neo-classical albums I've ever heard.

In fact, the album often walks on the thin line between brightness and darkness.  Opener 'Lorsque la nuit lasse étreint l'inconnu' dwells in the world of people like Olafur Arnalds and other modern piano composers.  Gently soundscapes and soothing waves accompany the piano.  Then, gently but steadily, Day Before Us starts dragging us down into a mythical and gloomy world as the album slowly gets darker.

'Ecstasy of the stigmatist' drives on a torpid tempo, created by deep, slow beats and church organ.  The atmosphere starts to gets somewhat grim and the portals to the darkest regions of Day Before Us' mysterious world open.  'Voyna serdtsa' brings out the female vocals which have a siren-like effect, luring you in.   Here we come closer to acts like Elend or Die Verbannten Kinder Evas.

But just when I've finally decided that this is dark ambient, Day Before Us comes up with Klaus Schulze influences, a bit on the darker side but still.  They're noticeable in the beatless rhythm of 'Alda börnom'.  Shortly after, there also comes a bit of pagan folk shining through, adding plenty of variation to this album. 

In all, I think you should really check this out if you're a fan of gloomy music.  The atmosphere is perfect, the production is excellent, the music never gets obtrusive or cliche and the female vocals are heavenly.  Day Before Us certainly perfected his craft for this one so it should not be a surprise that this album comes highly recommended.


Serge

neo-classical / gothic / ethereal

Once again I suddenly face a musical style that I haven't been following in the past few years.  Several years ago, this bombastic and symphonic version of neo-classical music often appeared on my stereo-installation but as I grew older, I apparently grew out of it.  I guess I needed just a few albums to satisfy my ethereal darkwave needs, Arcana, Dargaard and Dark Sanctuary seemed to have been enough.

Yet, as with nearly all styles I don't frequently listen to anymore, I'm willing to give it a shot and I still recognize talent and quality.  Angelic Foe has both, which is quite understandable when you realize that this is a project by Annmari Thim, former vocalist for Arcana.  She is the composer, concept creator and singer.  Video games sound designer Samuel Lidström helped out a little and Peter Bjärgo (Arcana, Sophia) handled the mastering.

So you can say that we're in good company for this one, good enough to deliver a high quality album, loaded with bombastic instrumentation and Annmari's distinct voice.  At one point I realized that this was decent gothic metal without the metal part, something this genre has always been for me.  That is just fine by the way, I don't necessarily need guitars for my dark musical enjoyments. 

What I like particularly on this album, is the percussion.  These repetitive, almost ritual drums remind me of some martial ambient acts, such as Arditi or Toroidh, both also regarded as forerunners of a genre.  Along with highly symphonic instrumental arrangements, they guarantee an immersive listening experience.  Naturally, the add the sense of drama that makes this music so loved by young goths.

If you're into the bands I mentioned earlier, I advice you to check this out.  You can't go wrong with Annmari Thim since she's a damn talented woman, surrounding herself with top-notch artists.  I'm going to hold on to this one.  I definitely deserves a place in the dark corners of my non-metal collection.


Serge

dark ambient / neo folk

This is the third album by Shelmerdine's project. The Greek musician made the album together with Sekte, who took care of the narrations and choirs. Dark Awake came into existance in the early 2000's and at this moment made four albums.  

Right after pressing 'play', electronic ambient melodies that sound somewhat unworldly, draw me into a desolate yet friendly soundscape. Then drums come marching in, and I find myself joining the suddenly appeared army, not having an idea where we're going to. Willessly we follow an invisible force.

It leads us to a medieval or fantasy world, where there are many dungeons and other scary places. Sometimes we find ourselves in the palace of an evil ruler, where women grieve, witches chant and druids perform their rites. Sometimes we hear a friendly analog instrument like a piano or strings, but the atmosphere of threat and deep sadness never looses its grip. The army often comes marching by, bringing their atmosphere of battle. And when we look at the album art, it's appearantly not only humans we have to be afraid of. If you want to meditate while listening to this one, be sure to have your axe within reach...

The music on this album reminds me of projects like The Moon Lay Hidden Beneath A Cloud, Atrium Carceri and Arcana, but let's not underestimate the modest electronics that give the whole a modern, or rather futuristic touch. 

My favourite track is the second one, 'Babylon (The Scarlet whore)', where an alto tells her story, accompanied by ambient loopings. I'm not sure whether it's English she speaks and how to describe these ambient loopings, but the combination of her dramatic voice with the shrieks gives it again this threathening atmosphere.

I don't think Shelmerdine has a very nice impression of mankind. I hear nostaliga to lost eras, nihilism, disappointment, anger and some reflections on the horrors of the World Wars. In the tracks 'Lapsit Exillis' and the last one, we get gun shots and explosions as well. 

So if you like a healthy portion of haunting electronics and desperate voices every once in a while, get your ass over to Dark Awake's Bandcamp page and dive in...



Eline

Twilight Records
bandcamp

It's been a while since I've listened to something like this.  Not because I don't care about the ethereal branch of ambient music but simply because nothing new came our way.  I'm a bit of a musical wanderer so it often happens that I completely forget about a certain style for a period of time.  Writing for this website actually makes that better and worse at the same time.  Sometimes I'm in full-metal-mode and on other occasions I'm immensly happy with an ambient album like this.  The arrival of every release has the potential to be a nice surprise...

Day Before Us is a French/Greek duo. Crystal Sighs Of A Broken Universe is their third full-length and it's something for fans of Die Verbannten Kinder Evas, Arcana, Dargaard or Elend.  Based on European poetry and Greek mythology, this is an excellent ethereal ambient album and a beautiful nostalgic trip into the completely different landscapes our beloved contintent once used to be.  Yet, above all, it's a very personal journey into the imagination of the participants.

The album opens with angelic vocals, after a few minutes accompanied by infading drones and soundscapes.  Piano and strings enter the music, turning the whole into a gloomy, almost bizarre neo-classical adventure.  There's a tremendous feeling of drama in the songs and an almost theatrical atmosphere.  These elements remain present throughout the entire album and serve as gentle guides to the listener.  THe overall feel is calm and never gets overwhelming.

Selecting a favourite track is a pretty impossible task because the follow-up of the songs give the whole a concept-character.  However, I love a song like 'Toute mon âme, loin de ce monde'.  The minimal piano and even more minimal soundscapes are enchanting in this song.  Others are a bit more bombastic but this song is beautiful.  In fact, it's mainly the piano that gives this album a touch of magic.  It also makes Day Before Us a highly credible neo-classical music project.

The true power of this album lies in its composing quality.  Day Before Us knows perfectly well how to combine dark ambient and classical music and uses that skill to create eerie, but beautiful, anthems of a high quality.  This is ideal score music for dark, creepy horror movies.  I would recommend checking this out if you're one of those wandering souls.  In fact, let's gather and wander towards our own eternal homes...

bandcamp

Sometimes, when an artist mentions that his or, in this case, her album is based on an ancient myth, research for a review can easily turn into endless wikipedia scrolling, absorbing the myth and the surrounding stories. At those times I tend to forget all about the album itself. But when an album has the right atmosphere and sound it has the capacity to blend in with the myth. At that point words and sounds become one and create a beautiful trip through ancient times.

You guessed it, this is one of those albums. Migration, the debut e.p. from Chicago born and Rome resident one-woman project Lykanthea is (loosely) based on the ancient Summerian myth of goddess Inanna's descent into the underworld. With electronics, soundscapes and layers of mysterious voices Lykanthea creates the perfect soundtrack for the chapters in this myth. It sounds like a mix of (well produced) witch-house and the dark anthems of Zola Jesus.

The first two songs drive on a simple but effective rhythm that could be compared to stretched-out trip-hop, becoming a lot gloomier and breathing a darker atmosphere. 'My Sister', featuring Rasplyn, is a beautiful ambient hymn, reminding me of Die Verbantten Kinder Evas or even Dead Can Dance in their 'Within the Realm of a Dying Sun' era. If you ever have the chance to witness this song in a church, somewhere in a cold, snowy region, go for it. Your life will probably never be the same again.

'Alponia' and 'Parturition', the final two of these wonderful hymns, sound a bit more electronic but drive on a similar soothing soundscape. The gentle-natured sound of this music is quite stunning. It floats trough the room and invokes a warm, kind feeling. The overall mastering and production are excellent and that is a huge plus with music like this. This is ethereal electronics at its best. Lykanthea is planning to take this e.p. on a European tour. I hope she visits our home town because it just might turn out to be an unforgettable evening.

 

 

Serge