Various Artists - Cryosphere [Glacial Movements - 2007]Cryosphere is the first frozen fruits of this new ambient label who as their name Glacial Movements suggests are offering up sound worlds which are meant to bring to mind frozen and deserted expanses. This compilation brings together some know names like Troum and THO-SO-AA, and some not so know names. The quality is fairly variable going from very effective to ambient sound scapeing by numbers, though there’s enough here to make it worth wild. In all there are nine tracks lasting between six and eleven minutes a piece. Some of the stand out moments to me would be; Northaunts who with their track crockery land bring to mind slowly been surrounding arctic vastness and loneliness, with a mix of swirling artic winds and melodic/ haunted drone craft. It brings to mind walk across vast artic dunes the sun just coming up and setting the snow to twinkle. You feel like you could shout and shout and never be heard. Aidan Baker's Beneath the ice with its calmly growing and building harmonic icy tones brings to my mind nearing the beautiful Aurora Borealis thats dancing above vast snow mounts, slowly become more and more part of the colours. An interesting opening release from this label, which will hopeful be able to build on the whole glacial isolation theme and vibe. To find out more, hear samples etc go here Roger Batty
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