Dungeon Synth: Album reviews /Pt I
Greetings Hinsiders!
To find the most precious “raisins in the cake” in the ever flowing flood of recorded sounds is a time consuming business that requires a lot of hard work. A fact that makes a good magazine or a reliable blog a good company, right? Today we give you four examples of what Hinsides considers to be something that stands out in this flood of new, and not that new, releases close to the Dungeon Synth tag. Enjoy!
Dughpa ”III”
/Brugmanziah (2020)
I´ve since long had the somewhat uncommon opinion that the best music “Hank Amarillo” (aka; Fenriz) ever made thus far is that second outcome of his Neptune Towers project. I seriously think that ”Transmissions from the Empire Algol” even surpasses some of Klaus Schulzes most cold and horrific soundscapes and sometimes I grieve the fact that this fine work still lack any sequel. A fact that´s been easier to handle since Dughpa arrived in my radio. I got hooked by the second journey of this spacerocket and this third observation was released late february this year so it´s quite new in the flesh so to speak. It consists of two long tracks, each about twenty minutes long.
The first one is mostly made of floating spacelike sounds that moves rather slowly. Like mysterious background noise that still creates enough tension to not become dull or boring. The second one is a bit more diverse and eventfull with it´s different passages and melodic fragments. It even got a few brakes and close to the end you get a really mezmerising part where a haunting and beautiful melody is looped in just the right amount of time. This kind of ambient music can be really boring but Dughpa III hold it´s grip until the very end. I liked the previous album and find this continuation equally intruguing. A must have for anyone into deep space ambient.
(On a side note; The Lp version includes a A5 sized 24-page booklet/zine with texts and illustrations made by Kumulunimbus. (Mr Wagner Ödegård.)
“Senosdecor” (A5-sized booklet/zine included in the Lp version of Dughpa III)
I secured my copy through the Helter Skelter distro and I guess that´s the easiest way to go if you re interested in the physical manifestation of this journey. (They also provide the previous outcomes of this project.)
Grimrik ”Eisreich”
/Deivlforst (2014)
The five tracks on this album were written and recorded already back in 2014 and has since then been released in several different formats. I instantly bought one of the presses on vinyl after being so fond of what you get here.
To be honest; it´s basically some shameless Grishnack worship that you get here, era ”Hvis lyset...and ”Filosofem” , but if you can live with this obvious inspiration, or ”rip-off” if you like, this will most certainly get your juices flow. No percussion, just ice-cold and well produced ambiance in the same spirit as the electronic parts of the before mentioned classic albums. Probably made with the same gear as well?
Nice fellas in the D.S jungle.
Wagner Ödegård ”Ur törnedjupen”
Hibiskofon (2016)
This one-track recording was my very first encounter with the craft of Mr Ödegård so I think it has earned it´s place here even though not being totally fresh out of the oven. It was released in September 2016 through Hibiskofon on cassette (HFK05) and what you get here is in my opinion nothing less than audial sorcery at it´s very best. Made with samples, pump organ, piano + what I guess is old syntherzisers. The over all sound comes out as being very analogue either way and truly makes your imagination comes to life in a positive manner. At least for me this combination of cuts from old films and poem readings together with fragments of really beautiful and haunting melodies makes a highly pleasant and inspirational journey indeed. It´s a very well executed and unique piece of ambiance that has this requireble nice flow all through it´s 30 minutes so there´s absolutely nothing to be annoyed about here. (Except that I had preferred if the music made under this name would have stayed separated from the Black-Metal leg of the originator. But that is, as they say, another story.)
”Ur törnedjupen” Cassette released by Hibiskofon (2016)
Old Tower ”The Last Eidolon”
Profound Lore Records (2020)
You know that ”something is going on” when more or less established companies are beginning to show interest in what you thought would stay somewhat underground. Not that Profound Lore is that favored M-TV label or anything like that, but it´s still a solid label and this release seems really lavish and thought through, so I guess they know what they´re doing, right? This is the third album from this dutch one man army and the first one on this label. What you get could a bit effortless be described as a more smooth and well played version of the first Mortiis albums. The sounds and feelings created here reminds me a lot of these classics but there is a bit more build ups and drama added here that makes this project more than a copy clown. I enjoy this diversity and the sometimes really dark scenarios that are being animated here. At best it´s like being dragged over the images of hell that Hieronymus Bosch are accountable for, so if that´s what you´re up for, this album is certainly worth your time and perhaps even money? Cinematic and suggestive!
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