Finland's Halo Manash returns with another full-length of ritualistic compositions created using analog synthesizers, EBowed guitar, windbones, sinebotar, pipes, bells, vocals, chanting, samples, percussion, cymbals, etc. Most of the compositions are rather long, though some, such as "Silvoinnokkaastietoa", are fewer than three minutes by comparison. The selections flow together and create one unified whole, coming off as an organic and very powerfully hypnotic atmosphere that shifts and changes so subtly that sometimes you don't really think about it, and there's a certain live/improvisational element that works quite well considering. Subtly melodic drones layer together to varying degrees of density and volume, creating ethereal hums and ringing sounds with lots of reverberated undertones and obfuscated vocals that create a sinister sense of menace in the distance - recognizable as human voices, but completely indecipherable as far as content. These vocal explorations and some of the distant percussive influences come in midway through the second track, the 12+ minute "Usvaisuusiutuva", which also uses a few "musical" patterns that are very stretched out and manipulated so as not to become too dominant or obvious. Chiming bells come in crossing over from "Alasp?in Syon" into "Et?-Etsij?", the latter of which quiets down and lets whispering/droning vocals do most of the legwork against swelling midrange notes, percussion coming back in later with another sinister, almost animalistic vibe to the surrounding elements. Carefully placed metallic scrapings lend a very faint sort of industrial rhythm to the foundation of "Irtautuminensin", and the percussion in "Silvoinnokkaastietoa" is a little similar, though with a tribal bent. The title track closes things out and keeps percussive patterns deep in the mix as swirling drones layer in and pan across the surface, gradually rising and falling as vocals softly introduce themselves and then things start to fade to a slow close. For such minimal dark ambient soundscapes the output volume is really quite loud and enveloping, highlighting a perfect recording that richly represents the textures of the work herein. The disc comes in a sweet looking digipack printed entirely in metallic silver ink on a leathery textured black paper. The artwork and imagery is all high contrast and has some of the same bleak and iconic style as the band's past work, but perhaps more stripped down and effective here. This record's brief explanatory statement suggests, "All of the material on this album is dedicated to and inspired by the dynamic subconscious which gave impulse to visions relating to auto-cannibalism and metempsychosis." Strange and intriguing, as usual. This is another release that I think would be absolutely exceptional to experience in a live setting under the proper environmental conditions. I think an hour might be a little long for a live set, and even with its cohesive arrangement and completeness the disc can sink into brief lulls on occasion, but not only would I be immensely curious to see how this work is created and the process the group undertakes, but these sounds filling the right space could be amazing. This is an experimental act to start taking more note of.
[Aural Hypnox]
Running time - 58:03, Tracks: 8
[Notable tracks: Putousva, Usvaisuusiutuva, Irtautuminensin]
Aural Hypnox - http://www.auralhypnox.tk
