thermal + seofon: a monument of chance

thes-amoc.jpg (11k) thermal + seofon: a monument of chance
(thousand - 1999)

Expanding on the improvisations of Ambient Temple of Imagination's Planetary House Nation, members of that collaboration thermal and seofon constructed the four long-playing pieces of a monument of chance. With intricate levels of sonic activity draped atop each other, these tracks are complex yet smoothly flowing.

Hypnotically swirling electrons are further churned by equally entrancing layers of percussion in ouster swarm (15:57). Echoey musical bits loop through the mix which receives additional shadings from shapeless shadows and shimmers. The dense stew inexorably pulls the ear inward, deeper and deeper. Simmering more a bit more slowly at first, application of buddhistic classics again features mesmerizingly cyclical layers. Beatless, though rhythmic, at first, the track comes to life through rather peppy, though never pushy, percussive patterns. Sparse ethnic flutes and drones give a hint of Middle-Eastern flavorings, before the piece quietens for its fade to white.

Another 15-minute-plus track, a toy ascending the tidal current mixture opens on quiet interstellar ripples, soon to blend with steadfastly cascading percussion and an electronic bassline; spacey synth riffs serpentine through the pulsating molecules of sound. Eventually all slurs to a gorgeous, effervescent wash. Organ-ic waves rise, fall and softly warble as we visit another tank farm by trolley (9:55); weirdly wet warbles intrude with a rythmic presence, to be dominated by a growling, low keyboard groove and invigorating beats, then enmeshed in elastically soaring strands of feedback wails. When beats and groove dissipate, synth strata, blips and hums remain, then further decompose

Multiple layers of activity cycling through various phases make for busy, though utterly entrancing, sound constructions. The 8.5 -rated a monument of chance is only one of several new releases featuring thermal and seofon; tune in next month when we speak with them as AmbiEntrance interviewees, as well as examine the newest Ambient Temple of Imagination double-disc. 8-5.gif
This review posted August 28, 1999

AmbiEntrance © 1999-97 by David J Opdyke (except CD cover art, rights retained by original owners).