Raffaele Pezzella’s consistently astounding Unexplained Sounds Group is perhaps the best-curated label covering dark ambient and ritualistic music. They present former Sigillum S member Paolo L. Bandera’s latest release, and present notes originally posted from the Bandcamp release site here: “Paolo L. Bandera (a.k.a. NG5361) has been propagating unconventional sounds and Continue Reading
Dark Ambient
S.Ludenberg – Misfortune Soul’s
S.Ludenberg is a composer from Vyazma, Russia and he produces absolutely mournful, melancholic dungeon synth. A heartbreakingly depressing record, but I think that that was the feel he was going for. He succeeded.
Various Artists – Touch: Isolation
Touch Records introduced many experimental and post-industrial music fans to some of the most crucial artists of the past 40 years or so. This compilation originally came as 28 single tracks which were available via subscription only, but since that option was shut down, the label thankfully compiled these tracks Continue Reading
Scott Lawler – Somewhere in Time (Reinterpreted)
I don’t remember Somewhere in Time as being a classic movie, but the film was enjoyable and starred Christopher Reeve (of Superman fame) and Jane Seymour. It’s fun to hear a much darker take of the soundtrack coming from composer Scott Lawler. This would have made the film a much Continue Reading
Shahin Souri – Liminal Space
Respect to Midira Records for publishing this work by Tehran-based composer Shahin Souri. It is a most elegant take on ambient music. There should be a better term for this, as the genre’s name is so badly abused these days, and this seems to transcend it.
Senyawa – Istana (Live)
Today is a workday for us in Beijing, so there is no review today, but I did want to point you to an Indonesian band called Senyawa, who is featured on Rafaelle Pezzella’s incredible Unexplained Sounds Group‘s digipak retrospective called the Far East Music Collection. It is a reissue of Continue Reading
Anglachel – A Light that Shines so Bright
The first thought I saw with this lovely cover art from Greek composer Anglachel was, “good boi!” It’s a heartbreakingly charming bit of cover art, but the main story is the music. It’s dungeon synth, but perhaps a little meatier than what I am used to hearing. The production value Continue Reading
Alphaxone – Dark Complex II
Alphaxone are a Tehran-based project who put out profoundly deep and lush dark ambient music.
Hiemis – Malleus Maleficarum
Hiemis are a project out of Spain, not exactly a mecca (yet) for dark ambient bands or dungeon synth, but this album is wonderfully bleak and enveloping. It has the feel of a lo-fi Spanish or Italian horror soundtrack, but with a lot of warmth to it. Eerie, of course, Continue Reading
Lustmord – Much Unseen Is Also Here
The legendary Lustmord has a new album which releases on March 15, 2024. Judging by the one track currently available to sample, this will be a creepy, heavy album with all the horror of watching a Bosch painting melt while on acid. This will be that deep.