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Reviews:
Necropolis | Necrosphere
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From Darkroom:
(By Mauro Berchi)
Ah, i bei tempi della grande madre Russia...
Grande paese, grandi potenzialità, grande arsenale militare ormai
in disarmo, grande freddo... In Siberia, poi... I Necropolis arrivano
proprio dalla Siberia (Irkutsk, per la precisione), e le note informative
del disco parlano di field recordings registrati in basi missilistiche
in disuso. Non essendo possibile verificare di persona, prenderemo per
buona questa suggestiva ipotesi. Due soli brani (43 minuti in totale)
di una dark ambient piuttosto corposa, non molto movimentata ma piacevolmente
densa ed etichettabile - giusto per capirci - come appartenente alla scuola
Lustmord-iana. Delle gran basse frequenze (da spaccare i coni, a tratti),
dei gran riverberoni piazzati su strani rumori metallici ed il giusto
numero di variazioni 'climatiche' (compresi alcuni passaggi melodici con
tappetoni di tastiere e strumenti assimilabili ad archi trattati) elevano
il disco al di sopra della media, rendendolo sicuramente appetibile. Forse
un po' pesante per un neofita totale, ma chi abbia dimestichezza con il
genere può aggiungere un nuovo nome interessante alla sua want-list.
Le pecche del disco? Un nome veramente pacchiano (al terzo 'necro' si
vince una bambolina??) e una grafica bruttina e ridotta ai minimi termini.
Sarò rimasto l'unico al mondo a considerarlo un difetto, ma mi
girano i santissimi quando ad un buon disco non corrisponde un aspetto
grafico consono. Non dico che tutti i dischi debbano avere un 'CMI look'
(Cold Meat Industry, sottotitolo per non capenti) o un booklet a 32 pagine,
ma qui si arriva a stento al limite minimo della decenza. Parlo - ancora
e solo - della grafica, visto che la musica, per fortuna, è tutta
un'altra storia... |
From Mentenebre:
(by Fernando O Paino)
Proyecto ruso, auto-editado originalmente,
en el que se combinan distintos sonidos de carácter envolvente
con otros rasgados, alternando con momentos en los que el silencio se
convierte en el amo y señor del momento. "Necrosphere"
está compuesto por dos temas que no dejan indiferente al que los
escucha.
La primera vez que oí "Necrosphere"
pensé: -He aquí otra obra de dark ambient. Sin embargo,
tras la segunda escucha comprendí que no se trataba de otra obra
del subgénero Dark Ambient, si no de una de la más impresionantes
composiciones de este estilo que he podido escuchar hasta el momento.
Este disco se editó en CD-R originariamente, con una bonita
y cuidada portada hecha a mano. El disco era de manufactura casera, y
tan sólo salieron a venta 85 copias. Esta primera edición
únicamente estaba compuesta por el tema que da título al
disco, ‘Necrosphere’, un recorrido de media hora por los más
recónditos aspectos de los sueños de su autor. Sin embargo,
con la nueva reedición realizada por el sello inglés Cold
Spring Records, ese trabajo tan extremadamente difícil de conseguir
en su momento está ahora al alcance de cualquiera.
Además del tema original que contenía la primera
edición, Cold Spring ha decidido añadir una segunda canción
de 14 minutos que responde al título de ‘Morning Air’,
ésta también es una composición que nos puede recordar
en muchos momentos de su desarrollo a bandas experimentales como Raison
D’Être, Alio Die o algún disco de Coil.
Sorprende muy gratamente lo bien producidos que se presentan
ambos temas, las atmósferas que estos crean son ideales para acompañar
este CD con un buen libro o, simplemente, con nuestra propia meditación.
Admirable resulta el volumen y la profundidad abismal que se alcanza en
algún momento del primer tema. Una obra que, sin necesidad de acompañarla
con palabras, nos relata una historia con un principio y un fin, esta
resulta polifacética y versátil, pero a su vez perfectamente
enlazada y homogénea en resultado.
"Necrosphere" está recomendado a aquellas
almas inquietas que les guste disfrutar del análisis de los sonidos
y su influencia en nuestro incosciente. Un trabajo realmente indispensable
para todos los amantes de la música experimental. |
From Ritual:
(by Alessandro Adriani)
Dato alle stampe inizialmente in CD-r nella
desolante distesa siberiana di Irkutskin in 85 copie, il solo-project
Necropolis viene ora ristampato dalla Cold Spring, con rinnovato ma essenziale
artwork ed una bonus track di 14 minuti ('Morning Air'), probabilmente
evitabile. Irreale ad ideale colonna sonora per incubi fatti di esperimenti
genetici nella Grande Madre Russia, il disco si basa su di una lunga composizione
di 29 minuti ('Necrosphere') con field-recordings nella Taiga ed in basi
militari dismesse. Gli amanti del genere possono aggiungere un ulteriore
tassello alle loro collezioni. |
From Sonomu:
(by Stephen Fruitman)
Over a decade and a half, Cold Spring have
evolved as prime archivists of what might be characterized as the "post-industrial"
sound. Necrosphere is one true classic they have recently rescued from
the exile of obscurity - it was originally released in a run of only eighty-five
CDRs four years ago. Necropolis is from Irkutsk and as his name would
indicate, he has a penchant for the dark and dank. What else to expect
from an individual whose e-mail monicker is end@wasteland?
"Based on field recordings [made] on the taiga and [in]
disused military missle shafts", the half-hour long title piece progresses
in discrete movements, seeming to first emanate from the deepest, darkest
Siberian salt mine, before moving on to an abandoned Soviet-era industrial
mill being operated by ghosts. Soon we seem to be inhabiting those very
machines ourselves, hearing them from the inside, surrounded by their
gnashing gears. Relentlessly black, grey and rust-coloured, some small
glimpse of light is detected with a soft orchestral interlude before the
inevitable return to darkness.
The fifteen-minute, previously-unreleased bonus track defies its title
and stands in juxtaposition to its longer companion piece. "Morning
Air" seems utterly airless, though also weightless and anything but
dark, quite radiant in fact, albeit in a restrained manner. It conveys
the feeling of drifting in space, and in fact, the piece closes with the
reverb-drenched voices of what could well be cosmonaut transmissions.
An essential addition to the library of dark ambient music. |
From DSide:
(by NoFuture)
Dalle fredde lande siberiane affiora 'Necrosphere',
uscito una prima volta nel 2003 in sole 85 copie, ha ottenuto il giusto
riconoscimento nel 2006 grazie alla Cold Spring che l’ha ripubblicato
arricchendolo di un nuovo brano - 'Morning Air', ideale prosecuzione del
pezzo precedente. Nel pieno rispetto del minimalismo del Dark Ambient,
quest’opera, a metà strada tra la delicatezza dei 'Biosphere'
e le sonorità più oscure dei 'Lustmord', si compone come
un’esperienza fatta di puro sentire che va gustata in un silenzio
pressoché assoluto, così da poterne assaporare ogni singolo
movimento musicale. La difficoltà di risalire all’esatto
significato dei suoni che si vanno costruendo, offre l’occasione
a chi ascolta, proprio come in una dimensione onirica, di perdersi in
luoghi assolutamente immaginifici, immergendosi nell’atmosfera di
totale solitudine provocata dalla rappresentazione di uno spazio che sembra
estendersi sconfinato in cui la forza della natura si sprigiona incontrastata
e il vento urlante si fonde a rumori metallici, freddi e intensi. I ventinove
minuti avvolgenti e penetranti di 'Necrosphere' (29:03) trasmettono il
senso di assoluta precarietà del nostro esistere facendosi preludio
a quella sensazione di distruzione totale che verrà perfezionata
nel successivo pezzo 'Morning Air' (14:19). I suoni si perdono nell’alternanza
di momenti di disperazione a brevi istanti di quiete apparente, dove il
gelo si fa da parte per lasciare spazio a parole lontane, distorte, deprivate
del loro reale contenuto. Ma pur nell’assenza di forme viventi riconoscibili,
tutto prosegue custodendo un ordine e un senso quasi perfetti, la nascita
e la morte sono come raffigurate nella loro imprescindibile unità:
niente resiste tutto si perde, quello che era caos si fa ordine, quello
che era distinto si fonde ancora, quello che era quiete diventa dolore
tagliente come il freddo che soffoca ogni forma di vita per dominare incontrastato
su ogni cosa.
È una sensazione di desolazione assoluta a emergere dall’ascolto
dell’album, tutto ciò che ci era familiare sembra essere
scomparso, schiacciato dallo spirare di un vento costante, pungente e
invadente che entra in ogni dove quasi a sussurrarci che è arrivata
la fine.. ''If only we might fall / Like cherry blossom in the wind /
So pure and radiant!' |
From Medienkonverter:
(by Veit)
Ursprünglich als auf 85 Stück limitierte
CD-R erschienen, ist das Debüt von Necropolis nun in neuer Aufmachung
mit einem 14-minütigen Bonustrack und remastered wieder erhältlich.
Wer also bei der Tracklist bestehend aus zwei Songs stutzig wurde, dem
sei gesagt, dass das eigentliche Release nur einen einzigen Song enthielt.
Das russische Ein-Mann-Projekt stammt aus Sibirien und eröffnet mit
"Necrosphere" eine schwarze, aber zugleich schöne Welt.
Sehr still verhaltener Dark Ambient mit lang gezogenen, ruhigen Melodien
sowie Windrauschen und seltsamen Geräuschen. Necropolis verarbeitet
mit seiner Musik seine eigenen Träume. Diese müssen sehr beschaulich,
aber auch sehr düster sein. Zudem basiert "Necrosphere"
auch auf Aufnahmen aus der Taiga und stillgelegten, militärischen
Raketen-Abschussbasen. Eine sehr krude aber interessante Kombination.
Ab und an wird man mit einem metallischen Schlag aus seinen Gedanken gerissen,
die bei dieser Musik sofort zu wandern anfangen. Wenn man ein Exampel
für Dark Ambient nennen müsste, dann wäre "Necrosphere"
von Necropolis genau das richtige. Dunkel und einsam. |
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From Filth
Forge: (by Simon V.)
From the cold and frozen lands of Siberia
comes Necropolis, a new dark ambient entity that revealed itself with
an extremely limited CDr release, "Necrosphere". The 29 minutes
featured on the disc were intended as a soundtrack to the author's dream,
using filed recordings made in the Taiga, as well as on disused Soviet
missile shafts. That material is now reissued by Cold Spring in a new
remastered and re-packaged version, which boasts a 14-minutes extra-track.
Necropolis can easily fit into the Nordic dark ambient school,
being Siberia even geographically close to Scandinavia. A lot of similarities
with the likes of Raison d'être, Desiderii Marginis or Letum can
be found in the music, and the ability to suggest to the listener's mind
images of icy desolation, decay and abandoned structures is not less effective.
Doomy keyboards, waves of undistinguished sounds, distant cold and melancholic
melodies, ghostly voices recorded somewhere... the atmosphere is at a
time dreamy and disturbing, but never nightmarish or unsettling.
Considering the limited resources with which it was recorded
in the beginning and although not incredibly original or groundbreaking,
"Necrosphere" is a very promising debut and a good dark ambient
CD for any lovers of these morbid soundscapes. Let's see what the frosty
winds from Siberia will bring us next. |
From ShadowPlay:
(by Scott A)
Necropolis, hail from the Siberian land of
Irkutsk, Russia, this Dark Ambient creation, was previously issued as
a extremely limited CDR, as well as the proper artwork etc, this re-issue
gives a bonus track bringing the release up to two very long tracks.
'Necrosphere', at just over 29 minutes, has lots of echoes,
indiciative of being recorded in old military mine shafts (apparently)
building up, in waves of cascade, drifting along, with lots of changes
of tempo. The shorter 'Morning Air builds on the atmosphre created in
track 1, but does maintain a more resonant sound and steady tempo. Definately
worth investigating. |
From Sonidobscuro:
(by Alberto Monreal)
En su afán por convertirse en el sello
de dark ambient industrial y ritual más importante de Europa, lo
que es decir del mundo civilizado, Cold Spring mantiene una política
de reediciónes y revisionismo histórico que nos están
acercando más a los origines de estos estilos tan estimulantes
y necesarios.
A tal punto han llegado en la calidad de sus ediciones que
podemos decir que Cold Spring es probablemente la heredera más
aventajada de sellos históricos como Cold Meat Industry o World
Serpent. Además tienen el buen gusto de incluir hasta Dark Folk
en sus ediciones. En esta línea de gran calidad emerge esta reedición
del trabajo de Necrópolis, un proyecto ruso, concretamente de Sibería,
en la región de Irkutsk, a priori un lugar sin duda alguna adecuado
para los rigores del invernal sonido de puro Dark Ambient que caracteriza
al proyecto. Además, y de propina, incluyen un tema más,
‘Mornig Ai’, en lo que me parece una traducción de
sensaciones asociadas al clima, con sonidos fríos que se estiran
y se expanden, que se retuercen y aparecen como la bruma o la niebla,
que viajan como nubes de vapor por una inmensidad congelada y putrefacta.
La inspiración de ‘Necrosphere’ proviene de los sueños
del anónimo autor de las dos “suites” incluidas en
el cd, que como podéis sospechar no parecen ser muy alegres, más
bien parecen pesadillas, a lo que se también varias grabaciones
de campo, entre las que se encuentra una realmente curiosa, la de uno
almacenes de misiles militares. Parece escucharse a la muerte vibrar entre
los ejes de los misiles. Es espeluznante, se recrea en todo momento esa
agradable sensación de muerte que de vez en cuando nos gusta de
experimentar a los que estamos quizá demasiado vivos.
Así es el Dark Industrial, una bruma densa como la
vida que te acerca a su hechizo helándote de frío. Si no
tienes una potente calefacción, mejor será que te abstengas
de escucharlo. Te morirías de frío. |
From Twilight
Zone: (by Michele Viali)
Il nome e il titolo la dicono lunga su quanto
contiene questo dischetto: la morte ha senz’altro un ruolo centrale,
ma è una morte tinta di bianco, il bianco che caratterizza la terra
da cui proviene questo autore, la Siberia. Il gelo penetra nell’ascoltatore,
è forte la sensazione che in quelle lande non vivano più
nemmeno le piante e che resistano solo i residui di oscuri esperimenti
e le ombre di chi è nato e se ne è andato nella nebbia senza
vivere…
I 29 minuti di Necrosphere videro la luce nel 2003 e, messi
su soli 85 CD-r, rischiarono di andare persi per sempre. Il recupero si
deve al team Cold Spring che ha saputo, ancora una volta, cogliere nel
centro, riuscendo a riafferrare un’opera sì difficile, ma
ricca di sensazioni nuove dovute al retroterra dell’autore che costruisce
con drones dilatati un vero e proprio monolite glaciale.
La nuova edizione è arricchita da una seconda traccia
intitolata Morning Air che, mantenendo il medesimo stile, si rivela l’ideale
prosieguo di quanto già sviluppato con Necrosphere. E’ doveroso
sconsigliare Necropolis a chiunque non abbia già familiarità
con l’ambient più cupa e minimale, mentre chi apprezza cataloghi
come quello della Loki Foundation o le prime releases della Cold Meat
Industry troverà sicuramente interessante questo nuovo assiderante
progetto russo. |
From Guts
Of Darkness: (by Marco)
Tous les éléments de la dark-ambient
classique sont présents sur "Necrosphere". Nappes et
basses profondes et étirées, mélodies semblables
à des tintements de pièces métalliques ou à
la réverbération sur du verre, samples divers (trains et
autres sources sonores en provenance de l'extérieur). Influencé
par l'univers rude de la Taiga, l'album se rapproche fortement des oeuvres
de Raison d'Être et de Necrophorus. Et pour une fois il faut avouer
que cela fonctionne très bien. Les deux longues pièces de
ce "Necrosphere" (la seconde étant un bonus pour la réédition,
ou devrait-on dire la véritable édition officielle) agissent
comme un halo sonore qui se gonfle progressivement de ces sonorités
disparates mais en parfaite cohésion, matérialisant l'environnement
abandonné et désertique inspiré par les visuels avec
une acuité assez remarquable. Les variations n'en sont pas cependant
suffisamment perceptibles au point de pouvoir déterminer une personnalité
propre à Necropolis, mais le principe du "field recordings"
retravaillé en studio fait de "Necrosphere" une oeuvre
qui se ressent plus qu'elle ne s'écoute et par laquelle il convient
de se laisser porter sans résistance dans l'esprit des travaux
les plus dark-ambient de Peter Andersson. Et c'est déjà
un très bon point ! |
From Judas
Kiss: (by AM)
Originally released in a limited edition
of only 85 copies, and in a crap cover if I'm being honest, I reviewed
the earlier version of Necrosphere previously on another website. I'm
just so popular people keep wanting my services. I should start charging
from now on. To save you trying to find that website here's what I wrote:
"I'll take 29 minutes of "Necrosphere" over double that
from other bile inducing artists I've had the displeasure to hear. If
you enjoy the desolate sounds of the bleakest and sinister ambient music
then this is right up your street. Life affirming and essential to lovers
of the dark side of music." Since then of course the artist has come
under the wing, for this release anyway, of Cold Spring, who have re-done
the artwork into something far more tasteful and in keeping with the theme
of the release - and added a further sub 15 minute track on as a bonus.
Hailing from Irkutsk, which many Risk players will recognise,
this Russian artist has taken his dreams as inspiration and created a
seminal dark ambient recording based on field recordings in Taiga and
disused military missile shafts. My thanks go to the Cold Spring website
for this information. What I don't need the website to tell me is just
how hugely impressive this release is. At 29 minutes long it was already
an incredibly intense and dark experience. The additional track and added
minutes makes it grow in stature into something even more imaginably defined.
A release that is so full of creative atmosphere that the word monumental
fails to do it justice. Basically, a superb dark ambient release.
I raved about this ages ago when there were only 85 copies
available. Justin down Cold Spring Records way must have thought exactly
the same way as I. If he thinks it worthy of release then you just know
that "Necrosphere" must be that bit special. So what are you
waiting for. |
From Lunar
Hypnosis: (by Ginnie Moon)
Cold Spring Records is seeking out and re-issuing
some fantastic recordings lately. This Necropolis re-issue is a fine example
of pristine music that would otherwise have been lost; its first release
was limited to 85 copies!
If you're already a fan of Biosphere, Raison d'Etre, KK Null,
Lustmord and other denizens of bleakdom, you'll want to grab a copy of
"Necrosphere".
Necropolis is one "Aghast" of Siberia, who uses
field recordings from desolate villages and abandoned missile sites to
create works of sublime dissociation and dissolution. From delicate symphonic
nuances to loud clangs and the odd, disturbing, unexpected human voice,
the effect is wholly unnerving.
The original release only included the "Necro- sphere"
track, which is 29 minutes long. Added here is the fantastic "Morning
Air", 14 some-odd minutes of pure dark ambient bliss. Both tracks
soothe and caress the listener into a trance state, only to be shocked
by unexpected metallic sounds, and even more disconcerting organic human
voices. It is rather like descending a dark tunnel which has been abandoned
for years enduring black water, spiderwebs, and echoing tolls; then suddenly
your flashlight pans onto a human face! A strange nightmare, this one.
Highly recommended! (10/10) |
From Feindesland:
(by Raphael)
Begeben sie sich mit mir auf die Reise nach
Russland, lassen sie sich verführen von der Weite des Landes und
der schönen alten Kunst bzw. Kultur. Herrlich ist es als Tourist
dorthin zu reisen und nach einiger Zeit, das Land wieder verlassen zu
können. Oder möchten Sie lieber wie der Erschaffer dieser tiefen
und düsteren Klangwelten unter der strengen Regentschaft des Zaren
Putin leben? Ein Wunder, dass der Künstler Aghast aus Irkutsk in
der Taiga sein Release auf den Markt bringen konnte, wo doch die Presse-
bzw. Medienfreiheit in seinem Land sehr eingeschränkt ist und nicht
Anpassungswillige in Haft genommen werden.
Die erste Auflage der Veröffentlichung "Necrosphere"
war streng limitiert auf 85 Stück und war in Form einer CDR erschienen.
Die neue Version des Releases hat auf dem englischen Label Cold Spring
Records das Licht der Welt erblickt und ist im Gegensatz zu seinem Vorgänger
in folgenden Punkten verändert worden: neues Artwork, ein Bonusstück
von 14 Minuten und Aufarbeitung der Soundqualität.
Die Worthülse Dark Ambient lässt sich mit den unterschiedlichsten
Klangcollagen füllen, von sanft bis mörderisch ist jede Facette
möglich. Necropolis dürfte zur dunkelsten Variante des Genres
zählen. Um Ihnen die Kategorisierung ein wenig zu vereinfachen, nehmen
sie als nächste Verwandte die Projekte Svartsinn und Karjalan Sissit
an. Wer absolut tiefe bis zerstörerische Soundcapes sucht, kommt
an "Necrosphere" von Necropolis nicht vorbei. Im Moment vielleicht
noch ein Geheimtipp, in nächster Zeit hingegen dürfte mit diesem
Potential eine große Popularität nicht vermeidbar sein.
"Welch dunkle Atmosphäre schließt mich ein
und führt meine Sinne in Gefangenschaft. Es besteht keine Chance
auf ein Entkommen, meine Fesseln sind wie aus Stein gemeißelt -
die Dunkelheit hat mich verschlungen - mein Ende auf dieser Welt ist gekommen."
So ungefähr könnte die bildliche Beschreibung der dargebotenen
Musik auf "Necrosphere" aussehen.
Das 29:03 minütige Tondokument mit dem Titel 'Necrosphere'
ist eine dunkle Traumwelt, die eine Komposition aus verschiedensten Elementen
darstellt. Epische Klangsphären, droneähnliche Soundcapes, wagnersche
Melodien, russische Folklore, geheimnisvolle Sprachsamples und dezent
eingestreute Industrial- bzw. Noise Parts verschwimmen zu einer düsteren
Melange, die einen unverkennbaren Charme ausstrahlt und jede Liebhaberin
bzw. jeden Liebhaber dieser Musik verzaubern dürfte.
Der Bonustrack 'Morning Air' (14:09) hingegen, bewegt sich
sehr stark auf das Genre Drone hinzu und weg vom reinen Dark Ambient.
Rückschlüsse auf die angestammte musikalische Heimat lassen
sich nicht verleugnen, die Merkmale sind atmosphärische Hintergrundsamples
wie das Rauschen des Windes oder orchestrale Klänge, die extrem verfremdet
wurden.
Die Hörerschaft bekommt hier ein wahnsinniges Hörerlebnis
geboten, welches sich in den Gehörgängen festsetzt und zu einer
Sucht werden kann. Es bleibt zu hoffen, dass der Künstler weiterhin
seiner künstlerischen Schöpfung nachgehen kann und uns den Freunden
des ausgefallenen Dark Ambients auf seine Reisen mitnimmt.
Wer auf der Suche nach der dunkelsten Klangwelt des Jahres
2006 ist, muss Necropolis hören und wird sie mit dem Stück "Necrosphere"
gefunden haben. |
From Neo-Form:
(by Anna D. / Nauthiz)
"Necropolis": Das ist Düster-Ambient
aus Russland, gekonnt umgesetzt von einem viel versprechenenden Newcomer
namens Aghast. Ein kleines Juwel, das definitiv erwähnt werden muss
bei der Flut an Veröffentlichungen gerade in diesem Bereich. DarkAmbient,
der Atmosphären aufbaut, in denen man sich verlieren und sich in
die Traumwelt des Erschaffenden hineinversetzen mag. Ruhig und doch bedrohlich,
kaum hörbar und dann mit aller Gewalt wie ein Sturm hereinbrechend,
die gesamte Zeit jedoch das Bild einer trostlosen, öden Landschaft
vor Augen und das Gefühl vermittelnd, man sei in diesem Land gefangen.
So und nicht anders klingt Necropolis.
Ganz klar wurde diese Musik von der Heimat Aghasts inspiriert.
Das Projekt stammt aus Irkutsk, Sibirien. Unnötig zu erwähnen,
dass dort strenge Winter herrschen, die das Land zu dem machen, was man
von ihm auch fernab jeglicher Klischees gehört hat.
Ursprünglich eine auf 85 Stück streng limitierte
CDR, damals lediglich den 1. Song "Necrosphere" beinhaltend
und unter ebendiesem Namen herausgegeben, wurde diese CDR dann mit dem
14-minütigen Extra-Track "Morning Air" versehen und von
Cold Spring neu veröffentlicht. So ergeben sich über 40 Minuten
Spielzeit; viel Zeit, in denen sich traumhafte verwobene Bilder vorm inneren
Auge aufbauen können, passend zum persönlichen Soundtrack des
schaffenden Künstlers. Und auch passend zu den Bildern, die Aghast
beim Musikschaffen womöglich vorschweben. Ein Blick auf die Homepage
(die sich ansonsten noch sehr im Aufbau zu befinden scheint) unter http://necropolis.wasteland.ru
genügt, um mit den dort veröffentlichten verklärt wirkenden
Landschafts-Fotografien in die Necropolis-Traumwelt abzutauchen.
Dem einen oder anderen bekannt sein dürfte das Projekt
übrigens durch den erst kürzlich veröffentlichten Sampler
"Swarm – A Cold Spring Records Sampler", auf dem Necropolis
mit dem Lied "Eudaimonia" vertreten war.
Musikalisch gesehen, paaren sich mit den düsteren
Klangcollagen einstweilen Ansätze von melancholischen sehr ruhig
gehaltenen Melodiebögen, selten durchbrochen von Sprachfetzen oder
Geräuschen von fahrenden Zügen, die in der Weite des Lands zu
verhallen scheinen.
Der Bandname ist bei "Necrosphere" übrigens
Programm. Necropolis: die tote Stadt. Doch auch der Titel spricht Bände:
eine tote Atmosphäre in einer toten Stadt. Und doch ist die Musik
nicht tot, sondern lebendig, denn nie zuvor wird man sich dessen stärker
bewusst, wenn die Abspielzeit erst einmal vorüber ist und man aus
der "Necrosphere" regelrecht "gerissen" wird.
Und auch das ansprechende Artwork spielt auf diese Stadt ohne
Leben an. Auf dem Frontcover sieht man ein zerfallenes Hausgerüst
in Schwarz- und Sepiatönen. Ein wahrlich trostloser aber durchaus
ästhetischer Anblick. Auf der Rückseite der kursive Schriftzug
des Bandnamens, Bauruinenschutt und ein vollkommen dunkler Raum mit Blick
aus einem geöffneten Fenster; vielleicht der einzige Lichtblick,
der sich noch bietet?
Das kann der eigenen Einbildungskraft und Interpretation überlassen
werden. Empfehlen kann ich dieses Album durchaus zu allen Gelegenheiten,
an denen sich der geneigte Hörer DarkAmbient der trostlosesten Art
zu Gemüte führen mag. Nichts, um die Stimmung zu heben, aber
auch keineswegs belang- oder einfallslos. Die gekonnte Symbiose aus dichter
Atmosphäre und verstörenden Soundcollagen, die in Intensität
und Tonlage variieren, weiß sehr wohl zu begeistern und hallt auch
nach Abspielzeit noch im Gedächtnis nach. |
From Gothtronic:
(by TekNoir)
Necropolis brings us dark ambient, and is
a project hailing from Irkoetsk in Russia. This music was already released
on cdr in only 85 copies and is now again made available this time on
cd by Cold Spring Records with an extra track of some 15 minutes. The
recordings according to the info have been made with help of field-recordings
in the taiga and desolate military missile shafts. The cd consists of
two lengthy drones, going deep, added with all sorts of sounds and samples.
The cd can best be described as a continous subterranean moaning. Like
the wind roaring through the deserted mine shafts, with metl plates scratching
against each other. This is quality dark ambient. Quite specific, and
therefore mostly recommended to those who enjoy that. |
From Absolute
Zero Media: (by Clint Listing)
Do you like Schloss Tegal do you remember
the amazing Kerovnian on Cold Spring well Necropolis takes off were Kerovnian
left off. This Russian project of Dark Bleak Haunting Industrial with
lush neoclassic moments with a very minimalist feeling towards all they
do. This is a much about the spaces of nothing between the notes and haunting
sounds as much and the blacker then black ambient they create. Necropolis
is just bone chillingly creepy. There are also but 2 peices on this brilliant
release, one 30 mins the other 14 mins. This is the kind of release you
sit alone with headphones and digest every part of the release 2 ,3, 4
times and then try to begin to understand what is going on. This maybe
the dark ambient release of 2006 folks. I just can't stop listening to
it. |
From Necroweb:
(by Deathbringer)
Auch wenn es sich bei "Necrosphere"
um eine Art Re-Release handelt, wird wohl kaum jemand die gerade einmal
auf 85 Stück limitierte CDR kennen. Nun hat sich das britische Label
Cold Spring Records dieser 'Problematik' angenommen und veröffentlicht
den knapp halbstündigen Titeltrack
"Necrosphere" zusammen mit dem neuen Song "Morning Air".
Das aus dem russischen Irkutsk stammende Projekt Necropolis erstellte
"Necrosphere" auf der Basis von Aufnahmen, die in der Taiga
und in verlassenen Raketenabschußrampen entstanden sind. Und genau
diesen Vorlagen entsprechend gestaltet sich auch das atmosphärische
Klangbild dieser Dark Ambient Veröffentlichung. Während man
von dumpf hallendem Grollen begleitet durch die beengten Korridore der
ehemals militärischen Anlagen wandert, schleicht sich bei einem ein
beklemmendes Gefühl ein, jeder Raum sieht etwas anders und doch so
gleich aus. Diese schaurig-schöne Düsternis ist aber nur die
eine Hälfte des klanglichen Konzepts, dem gegenüber steht die
Vertonung der Taiga, die durch Weite suggerierende Soundteppiche, einer
hellen Klangfarbe und angedeuteten Melodiebögen schon fast einen
romantischen, wenn auch leicht melancholischen Touch erhält.
"Necrosphere" ist ein ruhiges Dark Ambient Album,
das eine schöne Symbiose aus verträumten und bedrohlichen Soundkulissen
herstellt. Abseits jeglicher Hektik ist der Übergang zwischen diesen
beiden Stilen fließend, so daß "Necrosphere" vor
allem die entspannte Dark Ambient Fraktion ansprechen dürfte. |
From Terrorizer:
(by Will Stone)
Originally released as a mere 85 CDRs, this
impeccably well produced darkness from Irkutsk in Russia is based on dream
mentalities and field recordings of abandoned military missile shafts
in Taiga. Getting the right production sound is really the defining factor
of any black ambient record worth its salt, and 'Necrosphere' comes somewhere
between the eerie gentleness of Biosphere and the slightly more apocryphal
sound of Lustmord. Split into two parts, the first is the epic 29-minute
title track, which leads nicely into the closing fourteen-minute track
'Morning Air' that acts more as a continuation rather than any unwanted
pitch change that would have likely dented the mood. The entirety alludes
to images of vast seascapes with invigorating, narcotic atmospheres flowing
like waves. The dream-like quality of the whole piece is otherwordly,
almost cosmic in its vastness, and distant planets of which no life forms
exist, are envoked. 'Necrosphere' is the antithesis of mundanity. |
From Beyond
All Remorse: (by Matt S)
When it comes to finding difficulty in reviewing
and album, then it has to be said that this two track release from the
Cold Spring stable is one of the most difficult I think I have ever tackled.
With most releases you can find some musical merit or comparison
to link onto and even if it is a bad compromise, make some kind of comparison.
Not so with Necropolis.
Now don't get me wrong, this is an excellent release and perfectly
justified of any time, work or effort in conjuring up a decent description
of its content, its just so different and out there compared to the usual
fare we deal in. In saying that though, it isn't as different as I first
thought as I will try and explain.
This is basically the soundtrack to the authors dreams, which
is based on field recordings made in disused military missile shafts and
transpires into what can only be described as a very dark ambient creation.
This is of course where I believe it links into the more extreme forms
of music we are usually to be found waxing lyrical about. As an album
Necroshere holds the same elements of malevolence and that dark sinister
feel that many of the Black Metal elite also hold. The dark aura of foreboding
that is evident in much of the more traditional forms of extremity is
also evident here. In some cases the passages of sounds that make up this
release are more intense and heavier that a lot of the more contemporary
Black Metal releases. This is undoubtedly an album that will appeal to
many a fan of the darker elements of the genre that is itself pretty difficult
to define the boundaries of, so as a result fits perfectly.
The influence from this release, doesn't come from musicality,
its more from atmospherics and the aesthetics of the surrounds that it
originates. Russia, or more precisely Irkutsk which is in the Siberian
heartland is where the roots of this can be traced. No doubt a dark place,
devoid of much emotion or that spark of life that lends itself to a dynamic
civilisation. I may be totally wrong, but it strikes me that this place
is someone of a lost place. One that has been forgotten in time. One where
heavy industry has drowned any major cultural influence on life.
As I said from the outset of this review, this was always
going to be a different release to review. I think I have summed it up
in a fair and justified fashion and I also very much hope that I have
encouraged you to check it out for yourselves. Its a great release and
I am already looking for artists of a similar ilk as a result. |
From Vital
Weekly: (by NMP)
As we have been waiting for the long-awaited
re-issue of dark ambient's probably most defining album from 1994, "The
place where the black stars hang" by Lustmord (re-released on the
7th august 2006 by Soleilmoon Recordings), the time has come for another
re-incarnation of an epic moment in the history of dark ambient. Being
far lesser known than Lustmord's milestone, the album "Necrosphere"
composed by Russian artist Necropolis is nevertheless a true masterpiece
of drone-based darkness. Necrosphere was originally released as an extremely
limited edition only counting 85 CDR-copies back in 2003. English label
Cold Spring has now given us the chance to experience this unique exploration
into the darkest territories of ambient. Musically the album is based
on field recordings first of all taken from disused military missile shafts.
There is a melancholic atmosphere on the 30 minutes long track both operating
in the cold and warm spheres of expression. The album stylishly floats
between hostile industrial ambient and warmer spacey soundspheres sometimes
reminiscent of early sonic adventures by German krautrockers Edgar Froese
and Klaus Schulze. The listener are being taken to obscure territories,
where dark ambient fuses with industrial sounds from the military bases.
The sound is very dense, though there is much space and air to breathe
in the grandiose soundscapes. Deep and three-dimensional sonar effects,
multilevel background noises, at times rather tranquil, sometimes suddenly
swelling to a massive sound. The album includes an equally high quality
standard bonus track - the fifteen minutes ambient work titled "Morning
air" that continues the style of "Necrosphere" with the
same impressive result. Listeners of hauntingly dark, yet beautiful ambient
will appreciate Cold Spring Records for giving this magnificent piece
of black art a proper distribution. A true gem!
|
From Aural
Pressure: (by ANM)
Originally released in a limited edition
of only 85 copies (and in a crap cover if I‚m being honest) I reviewed
the earlier version of Necrosphere previously. To save you looking it
up here's what I wrote: "I'll take 29 minutes of 'Necrosphere' over
double that from other bile inducing artists I‚ve had the displeasure
to hear. If you enjoy the desolate sounds of the bleakest and sinister
ambient music then this is right up your street. Life affirming and essential
to lovers of the dark side of music." Since then of course the artist
has come under the wing, for this release anyway, of Cold Spring who have
re-done the artwork into something far more tasteful and in keeping with
the theme of the release - and added a further sub 15 minute track on
as a bonus.
Hailing from Irkutsk, which many Risk players
will recognise, this Russian artist has taken his dreams as inspiration
and created a seminal dark ambient recording based on field recordings
in Taiga and disused military missile shafts. My thanks go to the Cold
Spring website for this information. What I don‚t need the website
to tell me is just how hugely impressive this release is. At 29 minutes
long it was already an incredibly intense and dark experience. The additional
track and added minutes makes it grow in stature into something even more
imaginably defined. A release that is so full of creative atmosphere that
the word monumental fails to do it justice. Basically, a superb dark ambient
release.
I raved about this ages ago when there were only
85 copies available. Justin down Cold Spring Records way must have thought
exactly the same way as I. If he thinks it worthy of release then you
just know that 'Necrosphere' must be that bit special. So what are you
waiting for...
|
From Musique
Machine: (by Roger Batty)
Within the first few minutes it's clear from
the quality and depth of the sound here, why Cold spring wanted to re-releases
this deep dark ambient masterpiece, it was original releshed as a CDR
pressing of just 85. It drifts into chilling banks of flimatic synthesizer
work, low and deep bouncing off the abyss drones , and sounds that suddenly
fire out of the darkness at you, to keep you on edgy. At near on half
an hour Necrosphere is of a satisfying length, with enough textural and
sound variation to keep your interested. Like all great Dark ambient music
it's often difficult to put your finger on, what exactly is making each
sound, which of course tigers ones imagination. This seems to alternates
between the feeling of vast dank semi aquatic hangers, and rubbish strewn
abandon cities. Every surface covered in inches of dust, there seems very
little movement of air and you seem to be the first person here in many
years, even the animals have left. the was Recorded in and around Siberian,
Russia, utilizing field recordings made in Taiga and disused military
missile shafts.
The second track morning air runs for near on 15 minutes
and appears for the first time here. It's again another brooding piece
of sound work, aching out deep bellowing cravens of vast dark sound, that
seems to bring to mind been stuck on a narrow stone ledge looking down
into endless seemly bottomless pit just bellow you, you throw a stone
down ,but it never seems to touch the bottom. The air is dank with the
smell of decaying flesh matter, as the track nears it's end it slides
into darkly beautiful synthesizer clouds.
A very satisfying piece of dark ambient sound craft, which
I can well see my self returning to often. I Look forward to hearing more
of Necropolis future work.
|
From Synthesis:
(by Troy Southgate)
NECROPOLIS come from the large Siberian city
of Irkutsk, a fortified military centre on the banks of Lake Baikal which
also serves as one of the main administrative centres of the Russian Orthodox
Church. The city is known for its harsh environment and can be found next
to the famous Trans-Siberian Railway that runs all the way down Mongolia
in the South. And I did mean South, by the way, not East, which just shows
you how far to the East of Russia the city really is. In the early part
of the twentieth century, Irkutsk was host to various clashes between
the 'Whites' and the 'Reds' during the Civil War and the military presence
is still very apparent today. Necropolis even took samples from disused
missile shafts for this very project.
There are two lengthy tracks on this album and the first of these,
'Necrosphere', was originally released on a CDR limited to just 85 copies.
Needless to say, striking a deal with Cold Spring will certainly heighten
their notoriety and put Irkutsk on the musical map along with other local
heroes such as Belyi Ostrog, Printsip Neopredelennosti and Chyorno-Belye
Snimki. Try saying that after six glasses of cheap wine! The cover of
the album shows a deserted building full of empty brick fireplaces, broken
panes of glass, wooden beams, collapsed pipes and assorted rubble. 'Necrosphere'
runs to no less that twenty-nine minutes and begins life as a rumbling
tunnel of medium-pitched droning and discordant shunting. The menacing
vibrations sweep across you like an approaching storm, as though you were
buried alive beneath a battlefield. This is what Dark Ambient is all about,
providing aural props that stimulate the mind and allow the imagination
to run wild. The effects remind me a little of the music that accompanies
the nightmarish torrents of blood scene from the soundtrack of 'The Shining'
by Wendy Carlos, but in this case dramatically punctuated on six-and-a-half
minutes by a loud and unexpected crash that brings you back to your senses
with a start. After that we have a gentle ambient interlude before a return
to the claustrophobic surroundings of a subterranean hell. Everything
about it is just so bleak and unsympathetically detached from the human
condition. It's as though you were to find yourself in the womb of a monster.
One is made to feel thoroughly uncomfortable and ill-at-ease on the one
hand, but at the same time one remains aware that this unlikely sanctuary
is far preferable to that which is waiting for you outside. An occasional
knocking, watery disturbances and passing trains add to the overall uncertainly,
but there are welcome moments of calm and tranquillity around the eighteen-minute
mark. Synthesised tones, rising and falling, wash over you like a lullaby.
But this is merely a brief respite as the distant rumbling and a sound
like escaping gas slowly begins to increase. It‚s very threatening
and oppressive, as the sense of beauty begins to disappear in the face
of renewed hostilities. Indeed, towards the end once can just detect the
sound of a droning aircraft, almost like the way the old paper planes
disturb your dreams as they hum overhead on their nightly journey towards
the coast.
The second track, 'Morning Air', did not
appear on the previous release and is just over fourteen minutes in length.
The swaying effects that dominate the first few minutes are like taking
LSD in a needlework factory. Not that I've tried it personally, mind,
but the repetitive stuttering sounds like the effect you get when you
pat your ears with the palms of your hands. In fact this music seems tailor-made
for a trip down to the hallucinogenic mushroom patch and I can only imagine
what it must sound like after a large dose of fresh caps and stalks. The
constant rumbling and droning of the earlier track are still there, but
the ambient imprint which flows across it all has a slight metallic quality.
It has all the drama of a new dawn, as the sun rises across a post-nuclear
wasteland and illuminates the twisted horrors of the night before. Distorted
vocals and a cacophony of radio frequencies add to the effect.
This is a very nice album and it will be
interesting to see how Necrosphere can develop their sound in the months
and years ahead.
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