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Aughra - Proof of Dark Matter I Light the Lights [Magic Bullet Records - 2008]Aughra is the solo dark electrionca/ sound tracking project of Brent Eyestone (Big China & Little Trouble, Magic bullet label owner & member of Forensics, Corn on Macabre). With sonic references points been Coil; at their more beat bound and vocal less, Ulver around Perdition city era, Darker Boards of Canada and dark ambient simmers. The ten tracks on offer here are split between been beat bound and beat-less, and for me the most effective, rewarding and potently dark moments here happen in the beatless tracks. They find Eyestone building up a very tangible, nerve and often tension filled air with his sinister synth shimmers, wall like dread or cinematic doom. Though there are some rewarding moments to be found in the beat bound tracks; the problem comes with some of Eyestone beat selections which sometimes feel a little too clichéd and at times almost pre-set. But on the whole Proof of Dark Matter Light the lights is a varied and often rewarding dark ride. A few of my favourite moments come in the form of The Machine like Registration of Proximity with its grim and melancholy moon rise of church organ and synth harmonics. Ode to an urn which is built around a Boards of Canada 80’s like nostalgic yet sinister keyboard riff, with big crunching beats coming in about half way through and some rather nice noisy texturing and guitar feed back going on over the top. This is certainly worth picking up if you enjoy beat bound darkness and cinmatics, though don’t expect a particular distinct or original sound and be weary some of the more clichéd beat matter.      Roger Batty
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