Cities In Ruins - Athanor Of Souls
I have been around this label that has released this interesting new cassette with a new project called... Cities In Ruins. I am talking about the same label (Machine Tribe Recordings) which released that excellent album with Bonechurch, which I reviewed offcourse (see former review, google search Bonechurch + Kalteldur!). 25 copies and hand-numbered gun-metal cassettes (Be quick!). With this release, we are only dealing with about...23 minutes,3 tracks. But as you all know, a mini-ep could be as potent and good as a full-length.
The first track is called Dark Soul Of The Night, which is also the longest track (11.25 minutes). The track takes the whole of the first A-side of the cassette, while the other two tracks are on the B-side. The first thing that pops into your mind (or imagination) is that the intro sound/feel of the first track fits the mood which the cover artwork actually shows. Think about how time affects the modern achievements of man, how great buildings and great monuments will eventually crumple to... well rubble. Think about the emotions swirling inside you when you enter some grand building that once has been a thriving place for people, and all you can sense and feel are the leftovers/fingerprints of the people who once have been there. That's the exact feeling I get when I am hearing this track. Strangely haunting dark-ambient with a touch of neoclassical aesthetics. In the realm of acts like Raison d´être and Desiderii Marginis if you please. Although I would say that this track has a bit more edge to the sound than Desiderii Marginis, and more atmosphere than how Raison D´être sounds today.
The next two tracks on the B-side are called Athanor of Souls, while the last one is an alternate version. The track starts with the sound of rusty machines in a great hall, this gets replaced by an icy, lovely, and lush synth-ambient sound. A technoid pulse is also being added, but not the dancy kind ( don't worry! ). A lovely mesmerizing, and psychedelic piece of grandiose melancholy. Very much back to the days when Peter Andersson (Raison D´être) worked around his side-project called Atomine Elektrine, with some Tangerine Dream in there as well!. Isn't that much difference between the two versions, although I do think that the alternate version has a slightly more psychedelic, beatless, and slower feel to it. Both versions are good and offer two sides of the same coin/story. Depends on which mood you are in offcourse!.
I like it. Pretty much. Would love a full-length. I have missed that early sound which was forgotten back in the 90s, dark ambient/industrial-ambient with that berlin-school/neo-classical vibe to it. A project to keep your eye and ears on, let us hope for a full-length ok?!.
