With matured touch, ever evolving, the elusive Old Tower has gracefully graduated from their humble Dungeon Synth origins. Now a powerhouse of naturalistic sound design and mood crafting, Dark Music turns attention to Diablo-esque atmosphere. A cold, bleak, weary vision, drenched in mystic charm, devoid of technological comforts.
We embark on cautious treks, venturing through rural landscapes of unease. With a mastery of reverb and ambience, brooding acoustic guitars ring out, ambiguous winds assail us through a various unsettled places. Serine sorrowed strings and eerie droning tones weave in and out, never letting one arrive at a particular focal point.
Its parts serve a greater vision but on occasion, the music plays its hand. Sounds of rivers gushing or monks singing, these brief moments solidify a setting, divorcing ones imagination yet only to arrive in the same world. A bewitching spell, soothing and chilling within the same breath, conjuring a rural harshness, impoverished in ragged robes yet drawn to ritualistic wizardry. Its identity ever shrouded in the occult.
The four lengthy cuts of Dark Music offer flavors. The astonishing guitar resonance of Where Has The Spirit Gone' desolate wasteland is an utter indulgence. Celestial Canopy turns thoughts starward with subtle melodic uplifts glistening like the night stars. It picks up a beautiful spirited pace when cymbals and bongo drums arrive.
Most impressive of all is how the music flows through its many moody motions. It can linger and ruminate yet never feels repetitious along these steady epics. I'm both surprised and unsurprised by the level of excellence this artist delivers. The bar has been set high and they continue to delight with these inspired nightly creations.
Most impressive of all is how the music flows through its many moody motions. It can linger and ruminate yet never feels repetitious along these steady epics. I'm both surprised and unsurprised by the level of excellence this artist delivers. The bar has been set high and they continue to delight with these inspired nightly creations.
Rating: 7/10