Fief "VI" (2024)

 

I've raved about prior installation's of Fief's exquisite Medieval Fantasy compositions. Often a niche relegated to background music in RPG games, this artist elevates the sound of antiquated royalty with class. Armed with Lutes, Harps, Bells, Strings and Woodwind instruments, a whirl of jovial melodies rapture the halls and courtyards of monastic reign. Earlier chapters ventured towards natures charm, with softer tones cultivating meditative atmosphere. Over time, a sovereign personality has emerged.

VI arrives unchanged, locked in by dancing merry melodies and an eloquence befitting these nostalgic times' royal grandeur. Sadly, it leaves me with little more to remark on, a fine set of eight arrangements conjuring a soothing mood of simplistic pleasures, dance, chatter, fruits and wines in the presence of kings. With little new to offer, it swiftly becomes a familiar shade of music operating in the backdrop.

Rating: 5/10

Andrew Odd "Visions Of Red" (2017)

Wishing to "scratch the itch" from an artist who's discography is unfortunately light, I've rummaged around the mostly one track singles for Visions Of Red, comprised of three soothing space themed songs. Arcadia is a beautiful "pale blue dot" inspired piece. Leaning into the cosmic perspective, yearning string scale the epic expanse of space in a trance like state. A deep yet soft rumble of bass murmurs below, between them heavenly choral voices subtly emerge to peak the musics blissful tone.

Elysium turns a little esoteric, its fleeting voices steeped in mystery as layers of airy choral synths gradually climb an underlying tension. Piano notes smothered in a dreary reverb eventually arrive to resolve this ambiguous enigma. Tharsis leans Psybient. Embracing upfront melody, pronounced synths exchange, brooding towards a sense of eruption. I always anticipate a harder pivot but when the percussion arrives, its toned down, a distant snare kick groove, with narrow aesthetics.

 

 Visions Of Red delivers on this artists ability to cut past the mediocrity this astral music can often slip into, creating three intriguing songs to fire up the imagination. Fingers crossed for more Andrew Odd in the future, their craft is one with distinction.

Rating: 5/10

Sithu Aye "Kindness" (2024)

 

After a few years absence, our dexterous dazzling guitarist Sithu Aye returns on a charmed spirit. Armed with the cultured croon of slick melodic licks and lively rhythmic grooves, a matured venture into Jazz Rock unravels through Zero Sum Groove and Obsidian. Intensities unravel and acoustic aesthetics intervene, as subtle strings and mellow pianos guide his expressions into classy swells of thoughtful instrumentation.

Akin to the highly disciplined curation of fellow shredder Plini, Kindess delivers five fine stellar cuts with a compositional complexity that has each contributing sound seeming meaningful. The drums are livelier, full of shuffles and creative fills. Metallic tones transition into acoustics with soft atmospheres to let the creativity flow like a gushing river. Its effortless, as are frequent springs into guitar solos yearning to sing.

The thrashes of Metal are still present on its other three cuts. Sounding rigid in comparison, slabs of meaty low end noise bust out stiff chops. Occasionally the two gel but it leaves blemishes of an old style rearing its head among fresh ideals. Familiar Anime theme song inspired melodies linger too. Shining bold and bright with their catchy tunefulness, a welcome reminder of the Senpai series is captured. All in all, Kindess is a bright spark for a seasoned musician aspiring to new heights!

Rating: 6/10

Caldon Glover "Metrophagy" (2024)

Here's one from the Dark Ambient vaults, a cinematic venture that's clearly driven by world building through its devastating atmospheres. This is no musical affair but a craft of sound design terror. Devoid of melody and rhythm, a textured layering of sounds brood unsettled tensions that tremor and quake with abandon. Hellishly cold and unforgiving, gentle swells of airy synths breed ambiguity over the creeks, groans and aches of its many murmuring lifeless voices. These are forlorn ghosts, desolate noises wandering an urban graveyard. Visions of an apocalyptic nightmare manifest in a post-life state, a technological nihilism of self-annihilation that's stripped this world of its habitability, leaving behind a scared wasteland of concrete, metal and electronics.

At least, that is the vision that arises for me, perhaps its cover art planted the seed of suggestion for a such a vision to manifest. I see a futuristic cyberpunk metropolis laid to ruins, with the sense of something evil lurking within but the evil is the place itself, like a densely radiated city-scape hostile to life itself, where a gush of wind could yield fatality. This one is hard to assess, enjoyment depends a lot on mood, Accelerated Decay and Liber Spiralis where the most powerful cuts. Paired with a visual movie matching this theme would be utterly intense! One can only dream of such shuddering cinematics.

Rating: 7/10

Aaron Cherof, Kumi Tanioka & Lena Raine "Minecraft: Tricky Trials (Original Game Soundtrack)" (2024)

 

As the Minecraft soundtrack series expands, its ability to have an impact on its own identity diminishes too. Three of our post-C418 musicians return for the lengthiest offering yet, delivering familiar tones and temperaments to their collective prior efforts. All new additions are welcome, yet only two tracks land with impact, meriting talking points. One fairly positive, the other dubiously negative. Both are record discs.

Aaron Cherof's contribution's are inline with the smooth sailing of Trails & Tails' breezy charisma. Once again we ride gentle currents, as lush instrumentation swells from lulls like subtle gusts of wind amassing from stillness. Featherfall's endearing bedtime warmth comes birthed from inconsequential melodies, gently rising into a nocturnal cradle-song illuminated by shimmering bells. Clearly the favorite of his for me.

Kumi Tanioka treads her line too, offering chilly, atmosphere minimalism through lonely piano pieces that unite with gentle murmuring synths. They carry an airy bass presence, enriching what little came before into an emotive ambiguity with a lack of boldness to latch onto. As such they pass by without keen distinction, fit for the games background but feeling quite inconsequential as melodies land without memorability.

Lena's bag is varied. Deeper throws back to the lurching menace of the Nether. Its distorted synth melody lurches between threatening percussive rattles and illusive melodies, rotating around its tense atmospheric swell. Eld Unkown swings from mystique to drama as its pacy baseline musters a sense of urgency. Endless dulls in its own aimless duration. A stiff, nostalgic dusty piano piece, plays into itself as meandering through the cobwebs of a sullen, empty, former home yield little. Its almost good but clearly lacking a sense of gratification from its own empty oddness.

The music disc Creator is a bop. Bolder and bruising with an ensemble of classic, non electronic instruments, Lena forges cheeky melodies with a splash of Rock and foreign piazzas that is hard to deny. Lively and jiving, its perhaps not "minecrafty" but the Music Box counterpart version shapes its main melody into that blocky frame.

Precipice is also a bop. Feels like Mojang were after two lively animated songs to amp up the variety in record discs. This one however felt too little overproduced, a heavy assemble of noisy instruments bordering on the electricity Ive heard in modern Progressive Metal bands like Plini and Sithu Aye. A wildly colorful and adventurous song but lacking the guile and identity to tie it back to Minecraft in a meaningful way.

With artists now making second and third contributions, the games vast music could be accused of becoming bloated. The soundtrack doesn't hone in on something new and distinct to offer the game like the Nether Update soundtrack did. Its an extension of prior compositions which has been enjoyable yet doesn't say much about the Tricky Trials and interestingly none of the music plays specifically for the Trials Chambers, perhaps a missed opportunity for some Minecraft battle music, all tho goes completely against the philosophy of its incidental, disassociated sound design to being with.

Rating: 6/10

Ziggurath "True North" (2024)

 
With a swift and sudden departure from their prior Jungle Synth effort, Ziggurath pivots again. Now venturing on a chilly expedition, True North tentatively explores desolate atmosphere from a sullen, lone perspective. Glacial pace sets tone as broody bass synths, howling winds and distant gulls guide lonesome melodies on its journey. Pace is sparse, its ninety minutes frequently linger, drawing out its main sound design. The album sleeve feels fitting, a ghostly ship on a lost voyage, the lingering presence of icy death incarnate through a menacing skulls gaze.

Aptly named Hearthfire Inn, fire-crackles and lutes warm the bones, a refuge from the relentless frost that awaits. From here on, only glimmers of cultural instrumentation echo in the distant fog. Howling dogs, swirling winds and rehashes of its brooding atmosphere drag on. Through Halls Of Ruined Splendour offers shimmering sounds of wonder over the backdrop of crashing waves and the creaks of aged floor boards.

From here, iterations on the established sound design intensify, shying away from anything vivid, only offering glimpses of music to latch onto. Then Someone Dies offers a passing funeral dirge, a glum, drained march of sadness. The final track, True North, goes all in, attempting to offer a gratifying conclusion but coming up short. A surge of melodies underpinned by choral synths and soft organ hum doesn't quite land as intended, given the lack of build up to this final concluding moment.

Its obvious to see the intention here, to really lean into this chilling abandon. When giving True North little attention, its somewhat achieves this. Its sparse moments of melody and scenic sounds perk the ears but its sluggish pace and lack of animation doesn't carry much gravitas in the forefront of ones attention. Curation and more musicality could of elevated its presence. Otherwise, this is a soft miss to my ears.

Rating: 4/10

The Tiberian Sons "Satan's Office Supplies" (2022)

 
Here's a release I overlooked, The Tiberian Sons' first album re-imagining video game music within the Prog Metal format. Anthems Of Liberation was such a blinder, I had to give this a go. Sadly, little joy has arisen from its Paper Mario origins. Once again, I've not heard the originals but one can attest to their thrilling aesthetics and colorful liveliness. Satan's Office Supplies is given a lavish treatment, layered music with punch clarity. Subtle symphonies and jiving synths bustle between the upfront grooves of chomping, snappy drums and Djent rhythm guitar chops. Often stealing the lime light, the lead guitar wails with excitement, delivering key melodies and running away with dazzling solos, vivacious and vibrant, often serving as a voice of expression.

Why this didn't click with me is somewhat mysterious. Perhaps my Prog Metal clock has been run down for the time being. Maybe its the source material not quite matching the intensity. Although this music works, its jovial melodies run counter to a lot of hard hitting rhythm and stints of nostalgic orchestration that melds with a lack of feeling. Origami Castle is a keen example of its ends not quite sticking together.

 King Olly VS Mega Bowser is a similar composition, flutes and airy chorals coalesce around chomping groove and sinister horns, yet the track rides its devilish atmosphere well. The rest of the songs where somewhere in between, its opening five part set of tracks not feeling particularly special. A lot of the record descended into lively rumblings, were a blaze of passing melodies didn't land as they had done last time.

Rating: 5/10

The Tiberian Sons "Anthems Of Liberation" (2023)

Looking beyond Command & Conquer, The Tiberian Sons paint a lively love letter to another 90s game franchise. I've never played Namco's Ace Combat series but if this record is a fair impression, then its got an impressive soundtrack! Anthems Of Liberation has songs from across the series. Unleashing bottled up classic VGM energy, the group channel this animated music into a lively Prog Rock / Metal adjacent tone. Its plastered with rich instrumentation, layers of orchestration, synths and human voicings emerge, coloring its rocking riffs and crooning shred guitar with warm spirit.

At times the songs take on a grandiosity when this aspect becomes the focus. When not, the drums drive forward competent riffs for lead instruments to dazzle and shine as the music speeds away. They seem like they are from different universes. One is serious, epic and dramatic. The other half fun, playful, sprinkled with the best of that Top Gun style cheese. Along its journey, the push and pull between its ends is fantastic, always bursting with attitude and charisma yet keeping it fresh.

Anthems Of Liberation is a wallop of fun from start to end, after many spins I can barely figure out what my favorite tracks are. I'm almost tempted to check out the game that inspired it! Or at least the original soundtrack music for now. This one is a fine record for when needing some animated energy to vibe on!

Rating: 8/10

S1gns Of L1fe "The Age Of Cymatics" (2021)

 

This entry serves has a marker of discovery, a favored familiar frontier, voyaged by an artist exploring that magical space between distant stars and our imaginations. Cosmic Ambience, as I've come to call it, the space inspired synth style mastered by Dreamstate Logic, which became an obsession last year. Spotify's algorithms has finally steered me on to neighboring territory. Signs Of Life, presumably using the 1s to distinguish the name, provides a welcome hour of lengthy tracks stiring temporal focus, through dense stellar atmospheres that calm and sooth in their droning.

To deter from my usual astral analogies, I'll get direct. Signs has an approach of intention. Its strengths emanate from visible synths arranged with character and purpose. Bustling on looping melodies, alongside sparse glitched percussion, little feels hidden. The craft doesn't linger in reverberations but strides inline with its projections. Although there is an apt amount of spacious echos for its aesthetic, the spacey mood is thrust forth by bold instruments resonating with one another. Airy pads and lofty synths are present throughout but serve more so as a glue.

I also suspect the VSTs behind this sound are similar, with some bass lines and other tones having an uncanny resemblance. Signs also loves the swells of reverb that shift the music into new phases. One can feelsa greater sense of progression and direction changing on these tranquil cosmic voyages. I'm pleased to have discovered more of this niche to add to my collection, its fantastic music for getting in the zone. This too joins the Temporal Focus playlist. Still searching for more!

Rating: 7/10

Örnatorpet "Evigt Fr​ä​mmande, Evigt Fj​ä​rran" (2023)

  

A passing listen sparked limited curiosity. Another ruinous bout of mystic woes? Örnatorpet caught my ear in the past but this latest release doesn't quite distinguish itself. Wedged between an ensemble of broody eerie synths, mysterious murmurings, cryptic voices and rustling ambiguities toy, as soft touches of Berlin School emerge infrequently... a strong whiff of Old Sorcery influence is in the air perhaps.

Its a competent execution of ideals, atmospheres built through steadily layering simple melodies, instruments treated to carefully crafted sound design, imbuing scale and distance between more intimate imaginations. The chemistry slants from creepy shadows to fantastical weirdness as brighter compositions create curious settings.

Sadly, among its nine tracks, none were able to leap of the page. For all its interesting sound design and zany Dungeon Synth vibes, the whole project remained in the background, unable to command ones attention. Although mostly appealing and capable of conjuring the mystic moods I love, this latest effort was either too reminiscent of a genre I've explored extensively, or just rather average.

Rating: 5/10

Crag Forge "Hoardlegend" (2021)

One to slip straight into my "Dungeon Synth Focus" playlist, Hoardlegend revels in a deep rumbling mystery of epic stoic ambiguity. Lofty ambiences flood the foundations, a fog of unshakable presence murmuring from the depths below. From it arises distant smatterings of percussion, the thuds of doom drums echo upwards with a temporal sluggishness to rid it of any groove or tempo. Aligned with occasional strikes of cymbals and gongs, it outfits a rather simplistic set of ideas into a grandiose tension.

These eight chapters simmer in stature. Resting on a slow yet unmovable iceberg-like drift. Its as if one watches the space between heaven and hell from a empowered distance. Angels and demons at endless war among eternal clouds of the afterlife. Equally, ones imagination could venture on similar scales to a vast underground setting. Barbarian Mines clearly suggests a cavernous might of Dwarven proportions, its increased tempo and droning thuds certainly have a work-like rhythm about them.

The following Crystalline Flame ditches its low foreboding rumble for an airy shimmering excursion, a mysterious ascension devoid of destination, guided by an elongated flute melody and swelling synths. Its a rare moment of variety among steady temperament, fixated on a visualized settings, explored thoroughly in lengthy stays. Wonderful for conjuring a focused frame of mind with a Dungeon Synth tint.

On closer analysis, Hoardlegend is rather simplistic, lacking complexity with slow drawn out melodies, housed in chords that shift in a disconnected movement. Its brilliant at achieving an aesthetic experience, reveling in a Wagner-like militant tension, but one wont be taking away melodies from the experience. For all its mighty stature, no theater, event or progression is to be found. This is simply a collection of well built scenery sets for one to indulge in, if it happens to spark your imagination in the same way.

Rating: 6/10

Aaron Cherof "Minecraft: Trails & Tales (Original Game Soundtrack)" (2023)

 

Playing it safe and getting it right, Aaron Cherof, Minecraft's latest soundtrack composer, steps gracefully upon familiar foundations. With the last three installments, Lena Raine managed the burdensome task of moving forward from C418's iconic musical blueprint. She did so with a touch of magic, encroaching on a new wonder. Inspired atmospheres emerged, darkly yet gratifying tensions fit for nether dimension adventures. Gentle and dreamy surges of melody blooming from humble origins one Caves & Cliffs. And then The Wild Update, fusing hints of location and culture into the music for the discovery of new destinations, both ancient, dark and swampy.

Along with game ambiences, the inclusion of Pigstep and Otherside persevered with praise. Players now had new music discs at their mercy. Alongside the original twelve, they stood in equal brilliance. Relic is now the sixteenth record to join the collection. A reddish brown hue, light blue inlay an alluring look but does it live up to expectations?

Following firmly in Lena's footsteps, Relic works with the vinyl crackle, hinting a soft organic fidelity as buzzing synths resonate with shimmers of wobble and warping. It humanizes the key melody, which conjures Minecrafty spirits. Initially reasonable, it grows with percussion and variations on theme. The bass busies and drums increase complexity on path for a gratifying conclusion as underlying synths glow warmly.

A safe success and the same could be said for the other four overworld ambiences that make up this five song soundtrack. They follow a familiar format built by Lena. Pianos lead with lavish reverbers, building gentle, soothing ambiences that blossom with surges of lucid, ambiguous atmospheres bustling from beneath its main motif.

Bromeliad breaks ground a fraction, intriguing, as its main melody initially alludes. Sweeps of a piano chord get lost among the emergence of soft rhythmic percussive sway. Quite the build up, that leads itself astray as the musical direction pivots into a cloudy conclusion as airy synths and glimmering piano drips steal the focus again.

 Crescent Dunes could of been my favorite! A grand yet distance cram of shimmering instruments sparks a bold stance at the onset. Yet swiftly does the composition sway into familiar territory as pianos breeze in the winds of softly atmospheric synths again. It does find a charming passageway as rhythmic stabs of strings guide its ascending key melody. Not quite the typical characteristic for this game but it does work.

As I said in the opening, these new compositions play it safe, sticking to a proven formula and yielding competent results. There were a few glimmers of something fresh and distinctive on offer but always brief. If Aaron gets the chance to work again on the next updates soundtrack, I hope they get a little adventurous and explore their own musical flair could offer the games atmosphere and its passionate players.

Rating: 6/10

Rune Realms "In The Wild North" (2016)

So far this journey has been propelled by sequential surprises, as scene setting triumphs in constructing naturalist and fantasy ambiences. In The Wild North is the first instance where much of the music drifts from its scenic powers into drab spells of soft instrumentation lacking a thematic potency its album title suggests. Its opening two tracks weave strong melodies into its web of chilled, shimmering instruments. Between lulls upon snow blanketed fields do surges of valiant adventure arise. Dancing melodies move with gusto among the castly brooding synths below.

An excitement short lived, the following songs meander into a string of uneventful quiets, resting on its icy tone. The pace is sullen and lingering, not quite luminous to paint the vividness felt among these soft temperaments before. Individually the aesthetic chemistries are pleasing to the ear. Collectively they amount not much as direction feels lost among these frosty enchantments. Around the mid point, one song, Discovery Of The Ice Chasms, does turn the ear. A shivery mortal danger lurks in the shape of its unforgiving terrain, suggested only briefly in its one minute duration.

Another short piece, Emerging From The Caverns gains a similar distinction with the sudden shimmer of animated melodies. The song names suggest directions I didn't quite follow. However these pivoting moments made intentions obvious. Perhaps I've been spoiled by other works, or maybe this one could grow on me with time. Either way, its pleasant stay didn't hit me quite the same as the other incarnations.

Rating: 5/10

Dreamstate Logic "Starbound" (2023)

Since discovering Dreamstate Logic last year, the spacey music has become a staple in my streams. These cool, cold, cosmic breezes of astral ambience are pleasurable tone setters when focus is required. Starbound is the first new material beyond twelve or so other lengthy release. I wanted to give these seventy five minutes more attention but have since discovered its mostly business as usual. Not that business is bad...

The records instrumental pallet is somewhat indistinguishable from prior creations. This artist seems very much settled on stick to what works. Stellar drones and shimmering dreamy synths lay its atmospheric foundations. When pace musters, sequenced melodies and gentle arpeggios brood steadily among dense galactic reverberations. As momentum gains, its Downtempo inspired percussive lines take charge with punches, thuds, combined for satisfying kick snare grooves.

Most notable on Approaching Aldebaran, do drums and its general mood, slip into the enclave of Synthwave. The buzzsaw's make themselves known among sparse synthetic tom drum strikes. Its a subtle shift but about the only song that showed signs of somewhere new to stride. I did pick up a couple new favorites on the journey, to scratch the itch. Otherwise a fine set of instrumentals fit to serve its purpose.

Rating: 6/10

Rune Realms "The Stormcoast" (2016)

 

I find myself in awe again. Next on our Rune Realms journey I picked The Stormcoast. Adorned with a teal stone runic border and painted landscape of mountainous crevasse shorelines, my curiosity for a sea fairing adventure was both peaked and eventually satisfied. Led mostly by long aches of unmovable stoic string sections, accompanied by the soft, distant commands of horns, a mystic sense for exploration of the unknown is birthed. Unsurprisingly its themes echoed The Fate Of Atlantis, produced later but perhaps the soundtrack itself served as an inspiration.

With its theme suggested, the music herein fit the bill. Ones imagination will wonder through natural beauties, unscathed by man. Fantastical terrain, treacherous to traverse, yet gazed upon at a distance, from rivers, streams and coastal regions. Here lies no sea sickness, no sense of endless waters and torrential storms but a curious exploration of foreign lands inhabited by illusive natives who watch unseen.

Much of the record traverses the quiet and cautious. Meager in stature yet gratifying upon inspection, its miniature excursions are delightful, however can pass one by if distracted. Between its many soothing, calmer spells erupts the main theme of exploration and glory! These crescendos of strings, with the sounds of waves crashing and harp or flute melodies, converge to create grandiose magnetic spectacles. They command ones attention with their intense brooding and rock steady pace.

The Stormcoast is another remarkable chapter, found early on. It seems the what I would of hoped to be an evolution of the later records is actually here early on, the ability to lead the music into more nuanced spectacles. The melodies and progressions here work wonderfully with the aesthetics for some nostalgic sea baring that doesn't lean heavily on any tropes. Its really tasteful and so well crafted. Bravo!

Rating: 8/10

Rune Realms "Seeking The Lost Castle" (2015)

As master of environmental ambience and subtle suggestion, I next ventured to Rune Realms' early works, to see how insinuations of castle era adventures would manifest. The distinction remains pervasive, a craft imbuing the resonant charm of aesthetics. Ancient plucked instruments, gleaming strings of awe and the foggy lurch of Dungeon Synth keys, all coalesce on spirits of lost majesty among mother natures beauty.

Its opener, Seeking The Lost Castle, dials up intensity and tempo as aching strings and mighty empirical synths cast light on the dawn of kings, queens and castles. Cinematic yet soft, a reoccurring brilliance of multi focal range for ambience and theater guides it well. Ancient Walls Of Stone plunges into foggy ambience at the other end of the spectrum. Between these, a range of varity keeps the music moving.

Its focus's shift too, the pleasantries of fairy-tale adventuring emerge through woodwind and plucked instruments. It arrives with a warm playfulness, protected by the innocence of youth, oblivious to the horrors of warfare that often accompany such places. Equally, distant calls of military and might can be heard when horns and fanfare arrive. Calling through soft murmuring reverberations, they seem like echos.

Occasionally, like on Forgotten Grandeur, tension and foreboding can take hold. Its a rarer occurrence that never veers into darkness and horror. Essentially, casting a rich spell of the era and adventures within from a safe and wondrous space. With its main thematic melody serving as both entrance and departure, the record has a keen phantasmagorical presence, as if conjuring a portal back to a lost moment of time.

Rating: 8/10

The Meters "The Meters" (1969)

 

What a blast from the past! American instrumental Funk outfit The Meters debuted with timeless swagger and groove, an attitude still holding up till this day. Kicking off with Cissy Strut, the stage for jiving licks and crafty rhythmic grooves to swoon and croon is set. Boisterous percussion bangs out easy strides for aged guitars and warm bass to bounce off one another with stabs of intricate Funk melody over strutting baselines. Organ keys shimmer and chime in on occasion, with this unshakable 60s psychedelia aesthetic. The influences of Jazz and Rock from the decades past converge here with attitude to form an unshakable Funk sound.

Its instrumental nature leaves much space for guitars and organs to step up into and lead, expressing human instincts like vocals would. The whole affair feels like a loose jam session. The percussive arrangements tend to loop over endlessly as the rest of the band groove around its firm beat. This leads to many moments of magical chemistry but also detracts musically into moods without direction. A fun experience, yet plays without any overarching theme or sense of arrival beyond favorite tracks.

The Meters starts high and ends with another strident show of swagger on Sing A Simple Song. Whats in between is a mixed bag of goodies tiring somewhat with repetitions. The audio fidelity shows its age too. Guitars and drums peak often, tones blemished and of the age but all with a charm to gives it some edge, a punch that makes it stand out. Being mostly ignorant to this era, its legacy and place within the formation of Funk is unknown to me but I love how embryonic it sounds to my ears. Curiously poised for a new decade it sounds like the emergence of fresh ideas.

Rating: 6/10

Ziggurath "Jungle Majesty" (2023)

 

From Desert Synth, to Jungle Synth, Ziggurath's exotic inspirations turn wet and tropical on this humble second outing. With this friendly incarnation of simple synth arrangements, the music barely resembles Dungeon Synth anymore. Jungle Majesty feels more like a homage to 90s video game soundtracks. With an "at your leisure" pace and ever pleasant mood, the atmosphere conjured is ripe for scene setting.

Further embellishing this era defined soundtrack design inspiration, the simplistic MIDI compositions run stiff with precise timing. Despite this "flaw", a selection of rich virtual instruments, cared for with soft space filling reverbs, somehow washes away that sharp digital precision. Even in its slower paced cuts, of which many have a tortoise like crawl, the aesthetic charm of its gorgeous tonality wins one over.

The song titles are fantastically suggestive, both complimenting imagined events within the game and finding a fun temperament to match. It doesn't lean to heavily into the dark, keeping its light hearted tone throughout. A couple of moments muster more musical layers into compositions with more visual gravitas on occasion. Again its a vague yet fond reminiscence of the worldly Dead Can Dance that can be felt.

The recurring use of some distinctive instruments further highlights the fantastic chemistry at work. Bongo percussion, lone tambourines and voicey choral synth conjure charm again, yet aptly repurposed to this new jungle setting. These new claims to Synth genres are somewhat futile. Jungle Majesty doesn't create new ground but certainly evokes a nostalgic presence fit for enjoyment once again.

Rating: 6/10

Ziggurath "Tales From Southern Realms" (2022)

 

As Dungeon Synth ages, the potential for its maturity and new avenues of evolution is exciting. Despite the possibilities, many branches Ive heard seem a step in front of themselves. The notion and presentation exotic yet execution lacks musical vision. Ziggurath, and the notion of Desert Synth, initially seemed doomed to the latter.

Minimal use of rich tonal virtual instruments, sleepy tambourine and bongo led percussion, the unshakable humanistic choral synths. All too simplistic. My first impressions were as dull and lifeless, as the windswept dunes it was trying to sell.

There are still tracks who's spell seems absent on me. The incessant bird tweet on Assassins In The Courtyard an annoyance. It pulls me from the nightly Ethereal magic, brooding around the saw wave melody, which blossoms into an exotic mystery.

As familiarity settled in, the ancient dusky dune civilizations came to life. Steeped in cultural mystery, lost to the ages, the world building flourished with spurs of foreign instrumental chemistry akin to the delights offered by legends Dead Can Dance.

With ebb and flow, temperaments lull, then pick up pace. A sense of cycle emerges, the lively activity of daytime markets and trade, descending into night as the dangers of moonlit dunes sit softly in the backdrop, awaiting risky adventurous who tempt fate.

The brighter instruments highlight its potent melodies, forging a focal point for the records apt chemistry on this Desert Synth notion. In its calmer spells the minimalism feels lenient on the suggestion but its best sell are the bold, throaty, voicey synths.

They weave in a sense of ritual and spiritual tradition that illuminates a fantasy Egyptian alike culture with esoteric mythology at its core. This is where the record excels, a most gratifying component among a set of songs that work mostly for mood setting. The immersion doesn't quite grab you by the throat but the sell is strong.

Rating: 6/10

Rune Realms "The Fate Of Atlantis" (2016)

 

Seeking a record for the next step in our Rune Realms journey, The Fate Of Atlantis caught my eye with its soft pastel colors and suggestion of thematic departure from nature driven inspirations. The title too resonated, sharing name with a classic MS-Dos Indiana Jones game from my childhood. Had I payed closer attention to the attributions given bottom of its album art, I would of known the echos of that timeless, classic movie theme song, were not my own impositions on the music itself.

Upon learning this, the sparkle of adventure waned, as research revealed most, if not all, of the music here is built upon the MIDI soundtrack for the 1992 computer game. I was curious to see how this artist would handle myth and legend through the lens of a cultural, human setting. Instead, what was experienced was that of another. One I had technically enjoyed as a child, however, no dusty memories were unearthed.

The project, however conceived, has been a pleasant companion. Its shifts in temperament stir the spirits of adventure as moseying lulls and cautious tensions seem to hold over the mythical curiosity. Soft, luscious instruments gently guide one from mundane to mystical as its individual songs cut into moments of discovery and intrigue. The pacing is apt, a smooth, subtle journey conjuring great wonders.

Horns, strings, bells, harps and trumpets all have their moments, yet meld with a warm cohesion, giving the record an easy flow through its impressions both suited for ones attention and the background. The mystique isn't overt or over powering and perhaps suggestion has its power over where the imagination goes but overall its a fine experience for intended theme. A record worth returning to on occasion!

Rating: 7/10