Top Bar
Musique Machine Logo Home ButtonReviews ButtonArticles ButtonBand Specials ButtonAbout Us Button
SearchGo Down
Search for  
With search mode in section(s)
And sort the results by
show articles written by  
 Review archive:  # a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Funerary Call - The Mirror Reversed - Part II [77th Cycle - 2015]

Two years ago, ritual dark ambient master Harlow MacFarlane released the first part of an ambitious interpretation of the Tree of Death. The second and final installment of this wonderfully dark and sparse production comes to us on a limited edition (500), 6 panel Digi Sleeve from 77th Cycle. While similar in tone to the opening piece, Part II takes a less familiar route to get its message across. Funerary Call is one of the most solid projects out there, so it's no surprise that, despite the near minimal, unorthodox approach, he manages to hammer another one out of the park.

Long, low, sweeping synthesizer drones fill the air as harbingers of the descent into the nether realm. Idly moving and decaying even more slowly, the long notes bring up a lugubrious vibe signifying an ethereal being that shook off its mortal form and makes the long trek through the dark unknown. These lows play together loosely and are punctuated by spaces that amplify their sparseness and desperation. Ours is a world of warmth and light, and the other regions of space and soul are cold and inky. Stretching and drifting without a destination while unknown terrors float past, the journey becomes more horrifying as the time passes. Otherworldly and evocative, without being over the top and goofy, The Mirror Reversed - Part II manages to capture both the vastness of time and space as well as a subterranean, chthonic feeling of falling forever inward. Taking the deep, dark, contemplative tone of the first piece and pulling it to expose the spaces in its matter, this album grabs the listener and forces him to question his beliefs.

 Slow, sparse, and deliberate, The Mirror Reversed - Part II takes its time and makes a point not to waste any tones. While not a full on skull rocker like Nightside Emanations or The Black Root, Funerary Call's sequel is a nice follow up and companion piece to the first. Taking a few listens to fully appreciate, this one will appeal to any FC fan and to dark ambient fans in general.

Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5

Paul Casey
Latest Reviews

Funerary Call - The Mirror Revers...
Two years ago, ritual dark ambient master Harlow MacFarlane released the first part of an ambitious interpretation of the Tree of Death. The second and final...
190324   Pierre Jodlowski - Séries fo...
180324   José María Sánchez-Verdú - K...
180324   Celer - Cursory Asperses
180324   Burial Ground/ Nights of Terr...
150324   Uncodified - Erased People
150324   The Residents - Secret Show (...
130324   Dagr - Dagr (ltd-theatrical/ ...
130324   Ignaz Schick & Oliver Steidle...
120324   Math - Utterblight
120324   OdNu + Ümlaut - Abandoned Spaces
Latest Articles

Sutcliffe No More - Normal Everyd...
Sutcliffe No More are a British two-piece bringing together Kevin Tomkins & Paul Taylor. Formed in 2021, it’s the spin-off project/ next sonic step...
290224   Sutcliffe No More - Normal Ev...
100124   Occlusion - The Operation Is...
181223   Best Of 2023 - Music, Sound &...
051223   Powerhouse Films - Of Magic, ...
181023   IO - Of Sound, Of Art, Of Exp...
210923   Lucky Cerruti - Of Not so Fri...
290823   The Residents - The Trouble W...
110723   Yotzeret Sheydim Interview - ...
250523   TenHornedBeast - Into The Dee...
050523   Bill Morroni - The Trials & ...
Go Up
(c) Musique Machine 2001 -2023. Twenty two years of true independence!! Mail Us at questions=at=musiquemachine=dot=comBottom