Join the Mercury Mission

An all-new aural soundscape adventure has been released from Cryo Chamber, featuring eight members of the label’s talented roster; a veritable Who’s Who of those acts who specialize in analog synth wizardry. Mercury Mission Diaries is presented as a film, or perhaps an audio drama, and in the same manner as many other Cryo Chamber releases, with a narrative précis that helps “set the stage” in the listener’s mind, and prepare them for another journey into the sonic science fiction landscapes for which the label is fond.

Eight artists from the label have contributed tracks to a story that has the presence and timbre of a late 1970s to early 1980s science fiction epic. Of course, this summary is ultimately at the discretion of this artist’s own interpretations, but the textures and sounds used immediately sent my mind to those days of grander sci-fi movies and television, of saturated colors and film grain, rhythmic analog basses and grand synthesizer pads filling the background. A decided array of sound design talent comprises this album, as each track tells a different perspective of this ill-fated Mercury Mission, and yet, the presentation does not consist of an album solely of slow drone. Yes, this is a soundscape presentation, and an ambient collaboration, however, there is a sense of urgency at times, or even of action - certain elements of some of the tracks play out as almost a backdrop to a tense action scene in a film, and when they album is completed, it feels as if you have watched a sci-fi drama in a theater. The final track, Mercury Return Mission offers the listener an opportunity for resolution, or perhaps for the “inevitable sequel” leaving the narrative open for interpretation by the listener.

Mercury Mission Diaries is an excellent showcase of talent in the Cryo Chamber roster, and as mentioned above, the eight artists on this collaboration are known for their penchant with weaving analog and synthetic textures with a decided retro aesthetic. Fans of the artists included in this album will certainly be pleased, and newcomers to this style of music will find Mercury Mission Diaries an excellent launch pad for further discovery. Mercury Mission Diaries is available for pre-order and purchase on the Cryo Chamber Bandcamp page in CD digipak and digital formats.