|
Spectrum
Magazine (revised for Goth
Nation Magazine)
For a bit of brief background information,
this professionally pressed MCD represents a re-recorded and
re-mastered version of Terra Sancta's debut demo CDR - and
who are Terra Sancta you ask? Well, they may be rather obscure,
but this lack of current profile does not negate the high
quality coming from this Australian dark ambient project.
When I first heard the original CDR version
of this back in 2000, I was amply surprised by the quality
and maturity of the project. However at that stage I did comment
that while there was no complaint with the sound and production,
that a good bit of mastering work would assist in evolving
it from great to brilliant. Well, with none other then Phil
Easter of Malignant Sound Technologies (the studio offshoot
of US label Malignant Records) having been enlisted to remaster
this recording, it has had the result as I expected; the breadth
and depth of sound has been expanded into wide screen, cinematic
proportions!
As for the actual music of Terra Sancta,
it suitably aligns itself with the early to mid 90's sound
of the infamous Cold Meat Industry label, by taking its cues
from stunning acts such as Raison d'etre and Desiderii Marginis.
Yet this is not so much as a criticism of plagiarism, but
rather an indicator of the depth and maturity that has been
created on this recording. Three lengthy tracks span the 32
minutes of music mixing sparse textural soundscapes, deathly
drawn out keyboard melodies and smatterings of sampled (predominantly
female) choir vocals.
Depth and sparseness of sound is used positively
as a compositional element, particularly noteworthy when a
sorrowful (sampled) tune of a middle eastern instrument rises
briefly out of the depressive undercurrent of the first piece
"Desert Earth". Late in the piece the sparse textural elements
take on the track's moniker, with the aura being akin to searing
desert winds whipping up a blinding sandstorm. The second
track "The Infinite Lurking" is not as gentle as the title
may suggest, commencing calmly with muti-layered choir vocals
prior to fierce mid ranged layers arcing into the composition
(illustrating the final death throws perhaps?). Things do
calm down again, but only very briefly before massive drawn
out keyboard drones/ catatonic melody commandingly stride
into contention and remain for the majority of the piece.
A middle eastern flavour is again apparent on "Lithified"
with (again sampled) wind instrument melody that gives way
to a mid ranged slow keyboard tune that evokes a distant mournful
aura around it (also set against sounds of slowly dripping
water and other assorted field type recordings).
It is good to finally see a growing number
of Australian acts working in the obscurer aspects of dark
experimental music, and to highlight that Terra Sancta are
producing compositions of a world class standard, I can announce
that they have been snapped up by Malignant Records to release
their official full length debut "Aeon". In the mean time
it would be well worth your time to contact sole member Greg
Good to snap up a copy of this official, yet limited MCD re-pressing.
Highly recommended.
Richard Stevenson, August 2002.
(back to top)
|
|
Recycle
Your Ears
Wait, this is coming from Australia? "Anno
Domini 2000", the latest demo by Terra Sancta, evokes bleak
industrial soundscapes, majestic drums, and church choirs,
exactly the kind of things you think was only done in the
cold lands of Scandinavia. From the very beginning of "Desert
Earth", as some noisy winds comes combined with religious
atmospheres, the listener will think of Raison d'etre, Desiderii
Marginis and Cold Meat Industry in general. Very ample and
encompassing, Terra Sancta's music is, if not completely original,
well done and pleasant. The tracks evolve quite a bit, with
all the various elements of calm, dark industrial being used,
from the echoed beats to the cold backgrounds. You even get
something that sounds like a very slow guitar on "The infinite
lurking" (but I doubt it's originally a guitar), and a longer,
soundtrack-like melody in "Lithified". All in all, this isn't
bad sounding at all, and rather well recorded. Terra Sancta
seems to be a competent act, and, with a bit more originality,
this band could get a sound a bit more personal and become
a really interesting act. For the moments, fans of Raison
D'etre-like sound check out down this disc, at this is an
enjoyable and well made demo.
Nicolas Chevreux, 2001.
(back to top)
|
|
Malignant
Records
Self-released debut from this Australian
project preceding what will be an astonishing debut for Malignant
later in the year. As Richard Stevenson wrote in Spectrum
5 (since he's a better write than myself): "...takes
it's cues from stunning acts like Raison d'etre and Desiderii
Marginis...sparse textural soundscapes, deathly drawn out
keyboard melodies, and smatterings of sampled (predominantly
female) choir vocals...". Recorded two years ago, this
shows massive potential and promise, which believe me, has
come to fruition and will be delivered as soon as I can get
it going.
(back to top)
|
|
Manifold
Records
Sonorous complexity, ritualist drones, some
of the best Isolationist-ambient we've carried in a long time!
This is heart-chilling work that picks up the torch where
something like Lustmord or Lull left off. Little known Australian
artist G. Good has a masterful sense of where to place and
interrupt textures, tones are voluminous, swelling and ancient,
a darkly beautiful tension lasting for long periods but not
nearly long enough for the listener. Three tracks seem to
mix an almost Steve Roach-style desert/naturalist outlook
with malevolent, ancient death-ambient. Really good stuff.
For those of you that wait for the best in dark-ambient a
la Lull, Final or Lustmord, you have a new one to sink into
now.
(back to top)
|
|
Cold
Spring Records
A fantastic new project from Australia -
a beautiful mix of the finest classical dark soundtracks,
if you love Raison d'etre or the sheer void of Lustmord or
Inade - then this is for you. 30+ minutes of some of the best
darkness we've heard in some time, totally enveloping...totally
recommended!
(back to top)
HOME
|
|
|
