Member:
avestin
(Profile)
(All Album Reviews by avestin)
Date:
6/9/2007
Format:
CD (Album)
Dark ambient is indeed the right description for this. This is what the promotional text says. It also says it's otherworldly which is also quite accurate. Upon listening to this late at night, you might think you've been transported to some other dimension. Finally it says " The perfect soundtrack for a disturbing dream of inner and outer spaces". The music can be disturbing, both in the manner that the promo meant and also in another way, which is not so positive… it is disturbing that it does not fulfill what is expected after such a promising introduction. The tracks simply revolve around a simple "theme", and don't seem to evolve or go anywhere. There's a minimal production of sound, not much is going on which is due to Yeti Rain being a duo only.
At times, there seems to be some development but again, even then there isn't a lot that is created from that. I can barely tell when a track has finished and a new one has started, as they seem to flow from one to another with little variation between them. It is mostly quiet, mellow and even monotonous, with the synth playing long emotive layers of sound accompanied by the bass playing in the same style. I want to be clear, the playing is not bad and the music (or to be more accurate, textures, sounds) is pleasant but it is as if it is one long intro to something that never comes… At times, I thought of Tangerine Dream, but as you may know, their music had cohesiveness, theme, a connecting thread, movement and "purpose" or direction. Here I feel that if there is, it's lost somewhere.
There's a good foundation for the music, but there's nothing attractive or interesting built on it. This sounds as the accompanying two instruments of a larger band, as if the leading instruments have been taken away and we are left with the bass and synths.
This is good music to put in the background when meditating or late at night or when you want to create some spooky or weird atmosphere for whatever reason.
So who is behind this album? Roger Ebner on wind synthesizer and William Kopecky (Kopecky, Far Corner) with his fretless bass. I only know William, from those two bands mentioned, and I love his playing there. This is why I was surprised to listen to this, where he seems to tone down his playing, but I realize there was thought put into this and this simply doesn't appeal to me.
There are already preparations being made for the second and third album. The second album, Nest Of Storms is said to be almost completely recorded and to "be a more intense, edgy and angular record than Discarnate. They will be incorporating screaming sax and fuzzed-out bass on some tracks, at times evoking the avant-garde stylings of free jazz." So it sounds like it'll be more interesting than this one. The third album III will see the band expand to a trio with Craig Walkner (Far Corner, Snarling Adjective Convention) joining the lineup which will enrich the band's sound and musical vocabulary.
I felt disappointed with this album, but not because I got something else of my expectations, but rather because I felt I did not receive any substance. Maybe I am not the intended audience for this music, and ambient fans will love it. I don't dislike the music, but it doesn't interest me or receives my attention as it could have, had it been without those flaws I mentioned as I perceive them. Not an album I will go back listening to. However, I am intrigued to listen to their next effort.
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