Dark ambient always had quite a strict definition, which was enough for many bands and solo-projects of musicians worldwide. Minimalistic and free from pronounced details or emotional outbursts, it carries a lot of the hypnotic effects, created due to monotonous sonority and looped fragments. UK based Cold Spring label, known for its abundant experience in popularization of various underground curiosities, has expanded the limits of dark ambient realms. That means, in 1996 they released new compilation of "international atmospherics", which is going beyond the imaging course, but on the more profound level. So you can't figure out some common principles of composition or sonic juxtaposition, but in perceptional scale these pieces all are similar to the idea of classic ambient soundscapes: slow submergence, subconscious contemplation, lots of mystic and ritualistic signs. All of these tracks were recorded exclusively for this project, and many of these artists were just the promising newcomers. As far as the times passed, many of them became the most celebrated artists in the whole universe of the dark scene: Lustmord, Cranioclast, Deutsch Nepal, Inanna, John Watermann, Illusion Of Safety, Band Of Pain and Inade. Even the couple of tracks by less known bands like Experimental Audio Research and Jawbone are just the masterpieces according to all the highest standards of quality ever possible for underground music. The special feature of this CD is the best track ever composed by russian artist Mikhail Atom, bombastic and lyrical at the same time. This compilation was released in a limited edition of 1500 copies but sold out and out of print for many years, now becoming the collector's item. |
