Dark Music Review – Earth Songs
Review Written By Casey Douglass
Dronny Darko and protoU presents us a highly conceptual work in Earth Songs. Starting with the Big Bang, leading us through a path of evolution from the first life below the surface to the connected consciousness of humanity and us finally leaving earth. A dark ambient album of soothing, dreamy atmospheric drones and field recordings.
Earth
Songs is a dark ambient album built around an intriguing concept.
As the above album description says, each track takes the listener
through various time-frames and gives them an aural slice of history
and future as the time-line moves forward. It is also, as the
description says, very soothing. On my first two listening sessions,
which happened back to back, I fell asleep half way through...twice! I
think that this is due to a good number of the tracks featuring
birdsong and animal calls which I just found innately relaxing.
Anyway, on to the tracks!
The Tracks
Explosion [ 13.8
billion years ago ] - A muted explosion starts this track which then
peters out into a swirling drone. What sounds like hints of strings
and other thuds and bangs grants the soundscape an ominous roiling
feeling, energy moving and creating, higher sounds seeming to show
electrons and other particles vibrating in an orgy of light.
Life Beneath the
Surface [ 3.8 billion years ago ] - An encompassing drone waxes and
wanes, possibly hinting at the surface activity of a sea full of
arching waves. As the track continues, dripping water and rainfall
almost hints at an underwater cave leading out into somewhere above
ground, with birdsong and footsteps walking along gravelly pathways. There
is also a very pleasing tapping noise that echoes softly beneath the
swells of string notes, adding its own feeling of time.
Riparian Forest [ 300
million years ago ] - Chirruping insects, birds and calling monkeys
fill a gently noted soundscape that conjures an image of a shady
forest floor dappled with sunlight and the scurryings of small
creatures. A seemingly simple track that gives the listener ample
chance to enjoy and absorb the sounds of the creatures.
Extinction [ 66 million
years ago ] - This track comes in with what sounds like harsh wind,
rising and fluctuating before begin joined by an airy drone that
lends things a rumbling layer of threat. Things get harsher as the
track continues, an almost orchestral-sounding held note joined by
static clashes and breathy bluster. Lone notes see the track out as
things quieten near the end with what seems like a massive exhale.
Primate [ 50 million
years ago ] - Bubbling water and insect calls are joined by a
resonance that hangs in the air above everything else. This resonance
gets harsher just past the midpoint, distortions and higher pitches
jarring a little. I like the two aspects of this track: the ever
present insects and the jarring noises that hint at something not
being right, maybe reflecting the birth of man and his destructive
seed.
Singularity [ 2045 AD ]
- A low drone builds with high-toned notes around it. The high notes
spell a short repeating melody, a little like if you could get an
ice-cream truck in heaven, its music might sound like this. Embracing
and ominous at the same time, the odd bit of birdsong relaxing, the
static dissonance jarring. A track of many faces and feelings.
Leaving Earth [ 2135 AD
] - A low start rumbles into an echoing metallic-sounding motion with
fizzing sparks and droning engines. This track put me in mind of a
great ark ship taking humanity into the stars. It doesn’t sound
like a celebration though as whispered voices and mutterings hint at
an unsteady and volatile atmosphere. The tone uplifts a little near
the end, maybe offering hope as the ship vanishes into the dark
distance of space.
Thoughts
There is a great deal
to like about Earth Songs. I love the concept that the album
is based on and this, along with the track titles, gives the listener
some great guideposts to what might be happening in the soundscapes.
The soundscapes themselves are gentle and smooth, and as mentioned at
the start of the review, the birdsong and animal calls sits so well
with the darker drones and resonances that it is a genuinely relaxing
listen, for dark ambient fans anyway.
I found Life Beneath
The Surface and Riparian Forest were my favourite tracks, partly
because I found them the most relaxing. Saying that, the dual face of
some of the later tracks, such as Primate and Singularity had my mind
undecided about whether to feel at ease or slightly uneasy, and this
was pleasurable in and of itself.
Earth Songs is a
tremendous dark ambient album and one that genuinely takes the
listener on a journey, even if only mental, through the ages. I give
it 4.5/5 and would happily recommend it to any dark ambient
fan.
Visit the Earth
Songs page on Bandcamp at this link for more information, and
feel free to check out Riparian Forest below:
I was given a free
copy of the album to review.
Album Title: Earth
Songs
Album Artists: Dronny
Darko & protoU
Label: Cryo Chamber
Artwork &
Mastering: Simon Heath