Cryo Crypt is a very young side-label of Cryo Chamber with the aim to concentrate on a rather Dungeon Synth oriented identity. While the main label digs in the mud of Cinematic Ambient Music, this sub-label will release material by Cryo Chamber family members (and others?) that indeed explore the aural realms beneath the dungeon. The focus lies on releases in cassette format.
I never mind writing a review for ‘older’ material; at least when it’s worth being promoted somehow. That’s the case right here. Since the sympathetic Swede Pär Boström kindly offered me a copy of the latest Aindulmedir album recently, I had no (personal) doubt to write down my thoughts on it. I did like the former recordings by this specific act from Pär (you might know him as well from e.g.
(probably one of my shortest reviews in years - but then again: so what???)
No need this time to introduce this Iranian project by Mehdi Saleh, nor the long-time label behind it. I go over to the sonic content of the album immediately. I’ll be brief and concise.
An ‘older’ release, but who cares?...
Acoustics Of Shadows is a collaborative work of two persons who do know each-other well (no further comment), yet above all, it’s a mutual work by two beautiful, sympathetic people with a cool vision of / on sonic finesse. Both Oleg and Sasha are known for their subtle yet intriguing recordings, and this mutually recorded effort strengthens their connection.
One of the most influential and notorious labels within the (Dark / Cinematic / Space / Drone) Ambient scene is, without any doubt, Oregon-based Cryo Chamber. It’s a label run by Sweden-born artist Simon Heath, whom you might know from outfits like Atrium Carceri, Cryo Chamber Collaboration, Krusseldorf, Sabled Sun, as well as Abnocto, Musterion or Za Frûmi, which he ran, all three of them, with Simon Kölle.
Country (for what it’s worth): U.S.A. (formerly: Sweden)
Music + lyrics: Simon Heath
Production + mastering: Simon Heath
Artwork: Simon Heath
Type: sixteen-paged hard-cover digi-book CD (with liner notes & conceptual poetry) + digital
Duration: about fifty minutes
Genre: Esoteric / Ritual / Cinematic / Dark / Apocalyptic / Droning / Dungeon / Horror Ambient
Introduction: not necessary (for this is such famous project)…
Released almost eight months ago, yet once again a way too precious recording to ignore…
Country (for what it’s worth): U.S.A.
Members: Bruce Moallem
Production: Bruce Moallem
Mastering: Simon Heath
Artwork: Simon Heath
Type: six-panel digipack compact-disc
Duration: 75:39
Genre: harsh yet introspective Dark Ambient / Drone / Doomwave / Sad Post-Rock
The Praxis 8 models were the most advanced of their kind. They had enhanced cerebral and combat skills, expanded knowledge capabilities, and a capacity to develop as emotional beings [] Four of the Praxis 8 models took matters into their own hands and formed a breakaway faction. They rebelled against their owners. They refused to obey. They absconded, taking refuge in the shadowed nooks of the urban sprawl…
Country (for what it’s worth): U.S.A.
Members: Kristof Bathory
Text: Alistair Rennie
When Ambient artists join forces, the outcome is often a pleasure for the eardrums. In the case of Cryo Chamber it is about always purest aural satisfaction. I do not know how they do it, but each collab released via this label is like incomprehensible mathematics. Normally 1 + 1 = 2, yet in these case, the result of ‘1+1’ is much more than a simple ‘2’.
