If you think that it doesn’t get any more desolate than the sounds of brooding drones and the menacing soundscapes of dark ambient, then think again. Add in the natural textures of ritualistic ambience and horrific field recordings and the nightmares that you can only imagine will come to life. This is the haunting sensation the listener will undergo while listening to the jolting collaboration between Common Eider, King Eider & Cober Ord called, ‘Palimpseste’. With these five tracks clocking in at around forty seven minutes long, the listener should be prepared for a darkened, ritualized experience filled with essential tones, frightening whispers and bleak drones that are not only mesmerizing but intensely thought-provoking as well.
“Tombs – Earth’s Sacred Womb” begins with a deep, rumbling drone with the sound of soft, dripping rain. There is a slight commotion going on in the foreground and as it stops, ritualistic tones commence. Distant screams can be heard in the background as Tibetan-like chanting start a ritualistic process. Solid instrumentation assists the ritual, like the rumblings of an older model propelled aircraft. Additional instruments are introduced as well, as malevolent sounding whispers signify that the ritual is well in progress. After some harsher tones, the final few minutes consists of a heavy rainfall field recording and the dissipating sounds of wretched vocals and various drones. “Reclamation Of Water” is another ceremonial process that features layered chanting and nightmarish whispers. The assorted tones and field recording heard in the background add to the viscous tone of this recording and it draws the listener in as if they are participating in the reverent events. “Offerings A Wound” contains more of a normal styled vocalization than the chanting heard on the previous tracks. The thumping bass track adds a layer of random assault sounds to the mix, creating a dark and tribal-like offering. The use of assorted ceremonial instruments maintains the integrity of the spiritual aspect of the overall recording. “Calling To The Feral Ones” uses acoustic instruments to create a liturgical vibe, as if ancient cultures were calling upon their deities for guidance. The use of hollow whispers makes this a really creepy track and I can honestly say there probably aren’t many other recordings quite like this out today. The final track on the album, “As The Spirits Watch Over Us, We Reciprocate”, is one final ceremonial experience that combines all of the strengths from the previous tracks. From the deafening whispers, emotional drones, diversified ritualistic instruments, and acoustic sounds, this track is the perfect grand finale for this spectacular recording.
‘Palimpseste’ is not your typical dark ambient recording, it’s a ceremonial experience that demands the listeners time and attention in order to fully appreciate the magnitude of what all is going on. It’s easy to tell that Common Eider, King Eider and Cober Ord dedicated a lot of time and effort to make this a solid listening experience. I highly recommend this for fans of ritualistic dark ambient and heavy use of field recordings. Please support this incredible release by downloading it from the link below.
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