Time_Trap Posted December 25, 2005 Share Posted December 25, 2005 http://www.discogs.com/release/352551 Label: Projekt , Ikon (3) Catalog#: PRO00157, none Format: CD Country: US Released: Aug 2004 Genre: Electronic Style: Experimental/Ambient Notes: previously unreleased : tracks 1, 3, 7, 8, 11. All tracks remastered February 2004 Tracklisting: 1 Shallow Faith (4:30) 2 Second Praise For Last Hope (7:33) 3 The Nocturnal Air (5:43) 4 Ecstasy (6:56) 5 Kindred Spirits (5:54) 6 Darkness Overpowers It All (3:35) 7 Soul Dislocation (11:43) 8 By Abundant Rain (Live) (3:59) 9 Only Fear Will Survive (7:49) 10 Bemused Amphibian (5:47) 11 Assimilate (3:13) 12 Arterial (5:53) Belgian composer Dirk Serries chose the name Vidna Obmana for his musical persona because it means "optical illusion." in Serbian language. I don't know if he has any serbian/croatian roots though. Certainly one of the well-known.. [or maybe notorious?] ambient producers, I really like his style[which is evolving all the time btw... ] 1 Shallow Faith (4:30) Relaxing pads accompanied by rythmic noisy yet not disturbing sounds... Nice evolution in this track, with mysterious soundwaves slowly floating in the atmosphere combined with a mechanical feeling induced by the distorted hats and fx... 2 Second Praise For Last Hope (7:33) Less sounds, atmosphere gets darker already... Weird synths and fx... Genious manipulation of the sound from this self-taught ambient producer... 3 The Nocturnal Air (5:43) Time to breath a little... Managed to get out of the dungeons... Calm, soothing,rich and clean ambience. 4 Ecstasy (6:56) This anthology's most deranged track...Mechanical noises, alien signals... Terror,fear and aggresiveness. Add some experimentation as well... oh, and a respectable amount of crazyness. *WARNING*:Might irritate you if your ears are too soft. 5 Kindred Spirits (5:54) Let's take a break. Previous track was too intense, now balance must be re-established again. Calm but not silent, deep,smooth and cathartic. 6 Darkness Overpowers It All (3:35) We're back in a more industrial environment again, but now there's a weird rather happy melody which perhaps does not fit so well... Track would be better without it IMO... 7 Soul Dislocation (11:43) Busy bass, rhytmic drum-sounds,a few layers of long floating pads. Ritualistic, mystagogic atmosphere is soon to be built up. 8 By Abundant Rain (Live) (3:59) Clear and mysterious at the same time, a pinch of melancholy and a bit of mystery as well , beatless psychedelia... 9 Only Fear Will Survive (7:49) I think by now you've all figured out how the tracks are selected in this anthology... from light to dark, from tranquility and safety to anxiety and fear... This track is similar to no 4 - Ecstacy , only less intense and aggressive but more atmospheic and imposing... Needless to say, experimental synth sounds , silent noises and underground sound. 10 Bemused Amphibian (5:47) The amphibian is apparently bemused. Makes sense, after what he has gone through. You can hear his vocoded delayed voice now and then. 11 Assimilate (3:13) We are reaching our destination... sitting... gazing at the surrounding and becoming one with them... assimilation. 12 Arterial (5:53) Final track is subtle and starts hypnotizing you but as it deepens it soon reaches a climax and becomes loud,impetuous,wild. Conclusion If you are a Vidna Obmana fan you probably have this already. If you are not then you should get this to get a taste,however keep in mind this release is closer to his more experimental[2,3 tracks in fact]. Rating: 9.5/10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bahamut Posted December 28, 2005 Share Posted December 28, 2005 Thanks for the interesting review. I can only recommend "The River of Appearance" from this artist. Which isn't dark/experimental/industrial/rhythmic at all. It is pure soundscape music and it's some of the most beautiful ambient I've heard. Simply heavenly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Time_Trap Posted December 30, 2005 Author Share Posted December 30, 2005 Yes.. also The Surreal Sanctuary and Shadowing In Sorrow are in a similar style... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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