Monosymbiosis - 1
Another interesting release, and another interesting side-project from one of my favorite experimentalists within the dungeon synth scene. Canadian J. Browne has been active for some time with tons of excellent underground releases, mainly from his own label Realm of Sleep. Monosymbiosis is one of them. His own introduction to this side-project is being described in the cover-artwork as:
6 Pieces of droning analog ambiance that will drag you into the great void between the galaxies.
That description takes me back to one of my other favorite outside dungeon synth acts. Swedish Rymdborg, another project which further explores the analog-driven thing between space-ambient and dungeon synth.
This one is the debut of this project. A 52+ minutes 6 track cassette/tape album, limited to 20 copies (few left on the label´s Bandcamp site...so be quick!).
The first track I (all the tracks are called by the numeric numbers). A hiss, a strange alien-noise streams out of your speakers. In contact with some strange alien entity that obviously can reach your speakers. Excellent low-fi analog ambient moods creep in from behind, while ritualistic aesthetics sink into your mind. It is a very cool and very mysterious first track. Very early Cold Meat Industry/Slaughter Productions sound here: Megaptera, Atrax Morgue, Morthhound, etc. I love it 100%
The second track II starts with a spacy slow drilling sound, cosmic bass-moans in the background as well. Do I feel a bit of cosmic horror with this one so far?... Yes, I do. Maybee, you cannot build a spaceship and travel with the speed of light, but you can just... listen to this track on your own couch. Excellent fusion of moody ideas here... really excellent!
The Third track III goes even deeper within the eye of the great cosmos. As Arthur C. Clarke once said:
“Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.”
This track should have captured that idea. The great vastness of it all. The heavy ambient electronics work like a charm here kids!.
The fourth track IV is the longest track here (12+ minutes long). Almost metallic-windy drones here, like when the wind blows through several steel pipes at the same time. It is a very haunting, minimal, and ghost-like track so far. Just imagine, derelict and ancient space-ships (of some kind) which have floated in space for millions of years!. So far the album gets... darker and darker, and vaster! Almost sensing a kraut-rockish sound at the end of this track (early Cluster).
I will end this review now, further information about the rest of the entire universe will melt your brain into a slimy pond. The last 2 tracks are good, as a matter of fact... the whole album is good! It´s heavy and incredibly adventurous the whole journey through. I will recommend repetitive listening, which heightens the experience (believe me!). A job well done, brilliant!
