Dungeons Deep
2006
Contagiion is a one-man dark ambient act from the States. His Monolith demo is nothing like its name; in fact, it’s quite minimal-sounding. Even the most “ambient” of dark ambient projects usually have foreground intentions, but this demo is more like background music. That’s not a dis; the sparseness is rather creepy. It’s often scarier to hint at danger than to show it.
The soundtrack to David Lynch’s Lost Highway particularly comes to mind. Simple synth tones, low drones, and ominous whispers carry the first two tracks. The demo “peaks” with the short, eerie “Twilight” before receding to knocking noises, echoing snatches of vocals, and foggy samples of Gregorian-type chanting. The most recent track, “The Apparition,” is the most layered one, suggesting an increase in technical skill over time.
However, I don’t mind how the other tracks often present sounds one at a time, as the space between them is quite pregnant. I can totally imagine this as the score for the scene in Lost Highway when Patricia Arquette searches her house looking for an intruder. The artwork, too, is beautifully evocative. Extremely limited pressing of 10 (!) copies available at Dungeons Deep.
Heh, I was hoping for black metal.
I’ve MAJORLY lost interest in experimental noise over the last two years almost out of nowhere, but this is pretty nice stuff. The whole “limited pressing of 10″ is among the frustrating aspects of the genre that I grew weary of, though…
I can say that, as the owner of Contagiion’s record label, the copies are only currently limited to ten for Dungeons Deep, not ten all together. He has offered to obtain more for me if I deem neccessary. So if I get enough requests, I may restock.
Thanks, Lord Tetrarch, for the clarification. Those worried about the availability of this release should rest easy, then.
I’d like you to review my split with Rainfall; My project is Umbra, and I play experimental dark ambient/noise.
Download split here: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=09MCBZF0
Contact me: lord-of-despair@hotmail.com