V/A "NORD AMBIENT ALLIANCE" CD Reviews

From The Sekuencias De Culto webzine ( Spain)
A must!!!. I know this is a reviewer cliché, my friend, but this is what it is. This second reference under the black wing of the Canadian label is really a perfect example of what the generally speaking "Dark Ambient" genre can bring nowadays. Because this is not an ordinary compilation, I mean, this is not a bunch of bands for the mere fact of compiling, this is a reunion where the superb quality dominates over quantity. And the artwork!, very nice looking indeed: the CD comes in a special packaging, designed in an oversized textured cardboard sleeve along with 5 inserts in black and white, one for each of the participating acts. This is limited to 1.000 copies only, so act fast and get more info at www.cycliclaw.com But let us start with a general review of what to be found musically here. Each project contributes 2 compositions, and here is the list: Northaunt (Norway), Predominance (Germany), Instincts (Canada), Kammarheit (Sweden) and Svartsinn (Norway). Northaunt opens the gates of what is called a 2nd cycle inside the Cyclic Law process. The Norwegians have a first piece titled "Barren Land", a land smelling wet under the rain, a land made up of a beautifully arranged dark melody that appears calmly but powerful in its slowness. Controlled and slight industrial far noises help the process of a very good composition, open land of isolation forming a depressive but comfortable view of quietness and cold air. "A Shadow Among Shadow" is their second contribution and, while keeping an atmosphere of similar plainness, this is focused under a more tense ambient surrounding. Still producing several noises and well constructed experimentation, but a track with a more rude result and a static ambience floating permanently. Really, a band to follow due to their proper way of developing the "style". The well known Germans Predominance have already a deserved reputation, thanks to their good albums and releases through the essential L.O.K.I. Foundation label. They bring "Trans-Atlantis" and "Dust Of Lost Paradise". Their personal conception of dark ambient is reflected here, working as usual with a concept inclined to the most esoteric side of the genre, bringing tracks of oblique significance. Probably, after listening their previous albums, these contributions are one of their best works to date. They get a mysterious aura with each and every form, and during "Trans-Atlantis", a voice in German recites while cyclically some sequenced drones reiterate and a calm permanent way advances offering a journey to times immemorial. After the hypnotising previous track we find a harder composition, where some sound layers take a stronger expression expanding periodically and reaching even darker spaces. These are two different forms maybe to induce similar paths. Now we center our aims in entering the realms created by each Instincts composition. You can find a review of the first full album by the responsible of this great label and compilation here in our web site. Reading that, you can get an approximate picture of what this excellent act can offer. "Arise" and "Revelation" get deeper inside an undoubtedly proper concept. Frédéric Arbour composes again two pieces of probably one of the most apocalyptic approach we can find out there nowadays. His special way of treating the sounds and building melodies are quite interesting, the long tracks are really obsessive and show monumental places where everything seems to fall apart, where there is no place for remission, and fate is already decided. No chance of a turning back during the first title, while the latter leads to more indefinable places with no ceased for the suffering either. Kammarheit presents ambient industrials with ghastly noises that come and go under a dark cloak that prolongs its existence throughout the more than seven minute duration of "I Found It Weeping In The Field", a composition that left no doubt that this is another act to really follow. "Ruina" is their second contribution. Here they approach a more tranquil zone, without forgetting a certain industrialised concept introduced through a permanent and unmoveable black ambient. "Devouring Consciousness" is a very good album and Svartsinn has showed with that work that they are also one of the best acts of the genre. They elaborate during "Yearning" static ambient spreading a floating darkness that seem to grow in its effectiveness with the passing of seconds. Another interesting way of developing dark industrials with an almost permanent tension with the good virtue of varying the structure along the track. "The Ashen Dream" is the second title, we seem to fall in a large black hole that announces no end while increasing the power of darkness inside. Sounds are manipulated cunningly and they disperse through the recording increasing the effect of falling under the its inevitable force.
This great compilation shows examples of how these five acts are all different and original and at the same time can form a continued line to get an album more than a compilation, showing innumerable ways of presenting the dark ambient genre. This CD is a joint perception of the more ethereal constructions of Northaunt, the magical oriented of Predominance, the doom industrials revealed by Instincts, the interaction of backing noise and permanent darkness of Kammarheit, and the deep black permanence of Svartsinn. Once more, Cyclic Law released a masterpiece both visually and musically. Congratulations! F. Paco González.

From the Ortus Obscurum webzine (Sweden)
The opening track by Northaunt has a very appropriate title. Imagine a frostbitten landscape under the cold, shimmering light of a pale full moon as blistering snow sweep over a desolate field. Musically, this view is suggested by a hollow drone siding with a low, serene flow of ambience. My impression may of course be individual but it arrived before I had actually checked the title of the track. A Shadow Among Shadows is a less easy piece of equally atmospheric Dark ambient with a more subterranean touch. Creaking sounds, drips, and abrasive sounds play over a hollow drone giving Northaunt’s music a very sublime touch. The Predominance tracks aren’t as sublime as those of Northaunt. As soon as the first track begins, a low voice starts to speak over a slow pulsing rhythm and Noise made by ethnic instruments(?) and synthesizer bank sounds. If you remember the Sephiroth track R’lyeh from The Absolute Supper collection on CMI, then you know what to expect here. These two tracks share a certain relation in sound, the only real difference in style being Predominance use of spoken vocals. The other track follows in a similar direction, though vocals are now omitted. They are a bit more crude than the Northaunt tracks, not as serene and soft but still atmospheric. Instinct presents the most depressive pieces on this compilation. Ultra melancholic and simple music in a melodic Dark Ambient fashion that emanate nothing but coldness and grief. The music finds its appropriate place over the sampled howlings of cold northwinds that Instincts has used as backdrop in the track Arise. The melancholic serenity of the melodies are beautiful, yet I feel that the general atmosphere is ruined by the samples, otherwise the tracks are nice.
Swedish Kammarheit walks in similar Dark Ambient footsteps as Northaunt, though they have chosen to omit the use of serene sounds in favour of a more hollow ones. The sound is constituted by a low murmuring drone that seems to be coming from some dark recess of our world - a visual idea that is further provoked by Kammarheit’s use of crackling sounds, wraith howls and other quite eerie sounds, flirting with the aesthetics of the dark. Both tracks are quite homogenous and I cannot honestly tell them apart except for some minor details. They are atmospheric pieces that works nice when one wants to establish a dark and gloomy, yet harsh atmosphere. For example when reading horror novels. When it comes to Svartsinn’s contribution to this classy sampler, it definitely bestows this compilation with its two most characteristic tracks. The first one being Yearning, a Dark Ambient track that first seems to be ominously soaring down the sky until the music suddenly transforms into some flangered sound alchemy of isolated alien sounds, only to then again mutate into a ominously piece, now with a menacing string sound approach. Definitely computer made, Yearning is the sonic shape shifter of the otherwise rather individually homogeneous material of this CD. Eventually it ends in an unmelodic turmoil of low crackling noise with creaking metal sounds on top of it all. The Ashen Dream, Svartsinn’s terminus to this ten track journey presents yet another piece of hollow Dark Ambient music that just like Yearning evolves in several different directions until it finally ends. This is a nice compilation that presents some of the younger Dark Ambient projects that have sprung out of the North hemisphere during the last year (with the exception of Predominance which - as far as I know - is older than the others). Along with the very exclusive booklet, Nord Ambient Alliance is a nice compilation that maybe not contain the stuff of the ages, nor the most original material but definitely present above average Dark ambient music. Ectonaut

From the Seven webzine (USA)
This is the second cycle of a label that proves to be starting a foundation point of strong dark ambient material. it comes packaged in a fold-out heavy black card stock sleeve with five lush cards each representing the bands that appear on this compilation. the participants are as follows: northhaunt, predominance, instincts, kammarheit, and svartsinn. each of those wrote their respective material in early winter of 02, taking the listener into their own realm of abysmal atmospheric soundscapes. the norwegian musicians known as northaunt open this ten track compilation with two frozen soundscapes that arise from the depths and slowly ascend with intimate transparent tones and serrated movements. the awesome entity known as predominance unfolds very deep atmospheres that encompass distant mystical spoken word and waves of phantasmic air choirs with a track entitled "trans-atlantis." gerd's second track "dust of lost paradise" moves even deeper with foreboding and eruptive drones that descend upon desolate soundscapes and twisting dark swells. this artist never disappoints, and always represents some of the very best there is in serious dark ambient composition.
instincts, which i believe is also the label founder, presents two very dark neo classical soundscapes that envelope feelings of misery with sad undertones of organs, distant church bells, fading strings, and piano drops driven with an illusory sense of despair. swedish kammarheit pulls us into some very hazardous and dense textural cinematic backdrops that would perfectly fit into any noir horror film, especially something to the extent of elias merhige's work. svartsinn, also from norway, presents immensely rich avalanches of brooding soundscapes, liquid turbulences, and beautifully descending tones with the track called "yearning." while the second track, "the ashen dream" works with more warm drones, swirling transparent undertones, and the distant echoes of abrasive ghosts.
this label shows us many promising things on the distant edge of the future shadowy horizons. next to what loki foundation has been releasing for past eleven years, i would say that this label is making all the right steps with excellent choice of bands, artwork, and overall presentation.

From the Funprox webzine (Holland)
The new Canadian label Cyclic Law ("providers of dark soundscapes") has not made a modest start. After an album by Instincts/Bustum, this compilation is their second release. And again it is a remarkable item. The music is of very high quality, delivered by five promising acts in the dark ambient field. This ' 5-way split' contains exclusive tracks from these northern creaters of dark soundscapes; Northaunt (Norway), Predominance (Germany), Instincts (Canada), Kammarheit (Sweden) and Svartsinn (Norway). The packaging also is very special. "Nord Ambient Alliance" comes in a luxurious A5 sleeve, which contains, apart from the cd, some splendid looking A5 cards, one for each act involved. The music on this compilation has a lot of atmosphere. Northaunt brings us two very calm soundscapes, with a very cold mood, which make you think of a desolate place in Scandinavia, during bad weather. Their second track holds your attention, because their are many undefinable sounds in the background. Predominance, which I know from the Saturn Gnosis compilation amongst others, creates a more ritual, doom-ridden atmosphere, with mysterious whispered vocals and slowly pulsating rhythms. Their second contribution, 'Dust of lost paradise', sounds a little more threatening. It is a rather minimal, industrial soundscape, reminding of older Lustmord material.
Perhaps my favourite pieces on this sampler come from Instincts. Highly atmospheric, combining ambient with neo-classical. The speech samples and the sounds of storm fit in very well with the melancholic background. The second track from Instincts is a little slower, but very solemn and majestic, with church bells and some desparate voices adorning the music. Next is Kammarheit, a name I knew through mp3.com. This new Swedish act already sounds experienced. Their two tracks are very bleak soundscapes, especially the second one is very nice. I imagine it being used as a soundtrack for an apocalyptic movie, in which the earth has collapsed and you are watching shots of dust and debris. A whole Kammarheit album will appear on Cyclic Law later this year. The last act on the cd is Svartsinn, just like Northaunt from Norway. Deep drones and scary sounds arising from the shadows, but combined with more melodic, atmospheric elements, makes this interesting listening material. A very dark sound, with some extreme frequencies. Earlier this year Svartsinn released its debut album on Eibon Records. This compilation brings together some very talented dark ambient artists, and gives you a splendid dark trip for over an hour!