Make Contact with the Dark Source of the North

The cold fingers of dread interlace themselves around your very soul, but it is not only their icy appendages that causes the excitement to swell within - also the exuberance of discovery, the fear of wonder that only a human can experience when they stand at the threshold of something magnificent and supernatural that is beyond their understanding. The subzero temperature is not the only thing causing chills and tremors among the members of the arctic research team, and the rigored, tinny bleep emanating from the research equipment is herald to that very cause. Something is here, something is beneath the ice; waiting, sleeping, and that means sentience…

Imagination is the hidden ingredient to what makes this genre of music special, and two of the greatest sound designers in said style have returned with a brilliant example of soundscape narrative, Dark Source of the North, a collaboration between Dronny Darko and Ugasanie. Dronny Darko’s genius sound design is coupled with the ice cold proclivities of Ugasanie to deliver a frozen narrative of Lovecraftian and existential sci-fi adventure. A minimalist storytelling approach is utilized on this album, as each track unfolds a new scene in this arctic expedition, and such vague narrative works for this particular story presentation. In this album, the track titles help to further the story along, aiding the listener’s imagination as the undulating drones and reverb soundscapes wash over you like an icy wind, or a frozen breeze. Track titles such as Anomaly, Presence, and Contact combine with the intricate pads and sound design in the songs themselves to help the listener envision their most frigid sci-fi settings, with the awe and dread of the existential that immediately made me think of books such as At the Mountains of Madness and other colossal tales. 

Dark Source of the North shows why Dronny Darko and Ugasanie are masters of their craft, and this is an excellent way to enjoy the winter months with its chilling tones. You can purchase Dark Source of the North on the Cryo Chamber Bandcamp page in CD Digipak and digital formats.