Friday 31 July 2015

Ras Algethi ‎– Oneiricon - The White Hypnotic (1995)


Country: Italy

Tracklist
1. Aldebaran Crossing 02:12
2. The Bride Eternal 10:15
3. When Fire Is Father 08:50
4. Keys of Urtam (A Translucent Vision) 08:38
5. With An Halo Of Flames 02:46
6. Symbols (In Luce Obliqua) 12:12
7. Nubes Obscura 05:34
8. In White Hypnotic 06:31

Ras Algethi was an Italian doom metal band, formed in 1993 in Milan.
Their name is Arabic for "Head of the Kneeler."
This is the name Arab astronomers gave for the star that is now called Alpha Herculis.
They are one of the pioneers of the funeral doom genre. 
The bands prevalent elements are lurching, abysmal rhythms, church organs and dense, immersive atmosphere.
Ras Algethi released two recordings, the 1993 demo “Oblita Divinitas”, 
and a full length in 1995, “Oneiricon - The White Hypnotic” released by Wounded Love Records
They disbanded soon afterwards. Key members went on to form the band Canaan.

Thursday 30 July 2015

Shpongle – Are You Shpongled? (1998)


Country: England

Tracklist
1. Shpongle Falls 08:33
2. Monster Hit 08:57
3. Vapour Rumours 10:26
4. Shpongle Spores 07:16
5. Behind Closed Eyelids 12:29
6. Divine Moments Of Truth 10:20
7. ...And The Day Turned To Night 19:57

Simon Posford and Raja Ram are Shpongle, a psychedelic ambient project
formed in 1996 after they met at Butterfly Studios in Brixton, South London.
Simon was working on Purple Om and Hallucinogen
while Raja Ram was working with Graham Wood on The Infinity Project.
The two went to the Glastonbury Festival and decided to write something downtempo
after their experience and Shpongle was born.
Their sound is a mix of mainly eastern ethnic samples and western contemporary psychedelic synth music.
Posford is responsible for the synth and studio work
while Raja Ram contributes with flute arrangements and creative sensibilities.
"Are You Shpongled?" is the first of six albums released by Shpongle.
This album set the standard for psychedelic downtempo music worldwide,
and created a revolution between psychedelic trance and ambient soundscapes.

Wednesday 29 July 2015

Aghast – Hexerei Im Zwielicht Der Finsternis (1995)


Country: Norway

Tracklist
1. Enthral 01:36
2. Sacrifice 05:38
3. Enter The Hall Of Ice 05:02
4. Call From The Grave 06:04
5. Totentanz 05:24
6. The Darkest Desire 05:12
7. Das Irrlicht 03:58
8. Ende 03:34

Aghast was a dark ambient project by Nebelhexë aka Andrea Meyer Haugen and Nacht aka Tania Stene.
They released only one album in 1995 on Cold Meat IndustryHexerei Im Zwielicht Der Finsternis”. 
This album impressed the extreme music scene, where it reached cult status.
Due to Andrea’s later involvement in the film industry, Aghast’s music was used several times
in subcultural horror films such as in the film Sinister.
Andrea Meyer Haugen (ex-Hagalaz' Runedance, Nebelhexë) nowadays has a project called Aghast Manor
were she creates dark soundtracks once again.
Yet she makes it clear that Aghast Manor is a new project, not a revival of the old band.
She has also published several books on paganism and used to be married to Samoth (Emperor, Zyklon).
Tania Stene is an interdisciplinary artist. She works with different techniques such as oils/acrylics,
photography, collage, video, sound and installation. She is known for coverart & photo shoots for bands like Darkthrone,
Isengard, Thorns, Satyricon, Burzum, Emperor and Sunn O))). Tania used to be married to Fenriz of Darkthrone.