Ruptured World Ends a Galactic Quest with Xenoplanetary
We begin the year 2023 with the conclusion of the Deep Space Mission for Colonial Expansion, led by Professor Yannis Tarknassus. For five years, composer Alistair Rennie has piqued our curiosities, and guided us along his epic narrative of space exploration, cosmic and xenobiological horror, and with the release of Xenoplanetary, it would seem that mission and epic tale is drawing to a close. Our first experience with Ruptured World was the 2018 album, Exoplanetary, and little did I know that I would be embarking on a multi-year science fiction narrative; yet, here I am, with a review of the sound design maestro’s seeming conclusion to his space exploration saga.
Our conclusion begins with strange telemetries and radio transmissions, random clips of audio from interviews or television shows, with a rhythmic drum beat, and exotic synth rhythms that meander, much akin to the feeling of drifting through deep space - and that is the overall imagery I had in mind while listening: we are adrift in the vacuum, and stumble upon random radio transmissions, distorted and fragmented, but ultimately the final testament of Phoenix Macrae, and his journey to find his father. We are treated to this story as a secondary narrative, as listeners to the events of the Deep Space Mission for Colonial Expansion, and the quest of one man to find his missing father, only we have no direct connection nor influence on these events; a very Lovecraftian flourish of storytelling, and I like this direction. The soundscape musings help us drift along the tides of our imaginations, while the intermittent radio transmissions chronicle the final days of Macrae’s father; the fate of Phoenix Macrae is left to our imaginings.
Ruptured World delivers a thoughtful and imaginative ambient adventure, similar in some regards to other offerings on the Cryo Chamber label, yet wholly unique and stylized that make Alistair Rennie one of the best visionaries of the genre. This review has been purposefully vague as this album is one that should be experienced, and honestly has such distinguishing character that I do find it difficult to describe, but if you are in the mood for interstellar soundscapes with a cosmic horror or even cryptobiological flourish, you will enjoy this experience. You can purchase Xenoplanetary in CD digipak and digital formats on the Cryo Chamber Bandcamp page.
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