Cryo Chamber

I admit that this is an album that was released almost four months ago, yet it is still worth reviewing, and this for three reasons: the excellent label involved (I have always appreciated the Cryo Chamber community), both acts involved (no further comment, at least not yet), and the superb sonic pleasure that characterizes this collaboration (see below). Futuristic Dereliction is like a doomed, dystopian soundtrack once more, offering a post-apocalyptic view though sonic excavations. I will keep it concise, yet thorough.

(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.

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’.

God Body Disconnect does it again: creating a soundtrack around confusing questions about mortality and anxiety, about the unpredictability of the consciousness, about the limitations of our being and of our grip on reality and existence. I’m lost. I can’t find who I am anymore. The threshold of sanity has been crossed so many times, I don’t know if I’ll ever make it back. […] I’ve been there before, and I don’t ever want to go back. But, the wolves of hell have been sent to devour me, and there’s no calling them off.

Come journey deep into the depths, where long forgotten temples to strange creatures and dark cosmic summons lie unexplored by mortal eyes.