This is another ambient release from Glorious North Productions, featuring Canadian Ambient/Black metal band Tomhet. This is also the second purely ambient release I've reviewed in the last couple of weeks.
This EP features eight tracks, including five tracks that also feature on Tomhet's split release with Ukrainian ambient black metal entity Moloch. The EP itself, comes in a DVD size case, with very suitably atmospheric artwork (don't worry, you don't have to adjust your screen). This release is also only limited to 50 copies, so won't be around for long.
Tracklist:-
1. Nebuleye
2. Beneath The Earth
3. Above The Skies
4. Khaos
5. Day Dreamer
6. Alice in The Dark
7. Silhouette of Khaos
8. Wanderland
Wanderland opens with Nebuleye, with lowly keys and
programmed percussion.
This is a mere precursor to the rest of the EP though. Beneath
The Earth starts off quietly, with haunting and otherworldly melodies and a
sound akin to the wind blowing on a lonely moor. Much like the Moloch release
that I reviewed recently, it's very dreamy music but it's a logical step for a
band that plays black metal, with it's bleak atmosphere.
Wanderland appears to have a very modern sound, with
programmed effects and instruments sitting beside the keyboard, with the music
being written, recorded and mixed by Jonathan S, who is the sole studio member
of Tomhet. Above The Skies follows in a similar vein, with what sounds like
distant footsteps in the background. This is a very calm track, meandering
along quietly for six minutes. Khaos again features those keys, this time
though they're more layered and sit on top of some strangely creepy effects. One
thing that strikes me about this EP is that it seems to be very improvisational
in the way each song is arranged.
The second part of the EP starts with Day Dreamer, which actually
sounds more menacing than the tracks that have come before it. It also sounds
bigger, with more layered instruments and effects. It's also a short track though,
lasting just over a minute. Alice In The Dark sounds very cosmic. The sound floats
around you from the speakers.
Silhouette of Khaos and Wanderland finish this EP in, bringing it to a great end. The uniqueness of sounds in Silhouette of Khaos kind of
brings to mind the musical equivalent of a kaleidoscope. Wanderland is actually
very upbeat, with programmed beats and a pace not heard throughout the rest of
the EP.
You can here Alice In The Dark, on the Glorious North Productions website at http://www.gloriousnorth.co.uk/media.
The EP is also available to buy at http://www.gloriousnorth.co.uk/releases/cd-vinyl.
Tomhet can be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tomhet and via Myspace at http://www.myspace.com/tomhetband.
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