September 23, 2026

Ate & Nowa Ziemia – Substrate (Album – Zoharum)

Ate & Nowa Ziemia – "Substrate" album cover
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Genre/Influences: Cinematographic, Dark-Ambient.

Format: Digital, CD, Cassette.

Background/Info: “Substrate” resulted from the collaborative efforts between two Polish artists. Petar Petkov (Ate) and Artur Krychowiak (Nowa Ziemia) composed two tracks together.  

Content: “Substrate A” and “Substrate B” both are long duration cuts. They’ve been progressively built up by manipulated guitar playing mixed with Electronic treatments and field recordings. It all together resulted in a Cinematographic experience, which is hard to catch, but clearly dark and obscure. The second cut is somewhat more wafting, creating an effect of dark prosperity. 

+ + + : Both artists have found certain harmony between different instruments and sound sources. The tracks are extended, but not too long. There also is some diversity between the more obscure “Substrate A” and the dark, evasive “Substrate B”. I have a little preference for the more intriguing debut track. I also want to say a word about the sober, but artistic digipak of the CD version.

– – – : The production is cool, but without a true apotheosis.

Conclusion: A dark Polish experience in Cinematographic music, which has something stimulating although not given me total satisfaction. 

Best songs: “Substrate A”.

Rate: 6.

Artists: www.facebook.com/ate.music / www.facebook.com/artur.krychowiak.9

Label: www.zoharum.com / www.facebook.com/zoharum

About ate & Nowa Ziemia

ate is the recording name of Petar Petkov, who issued the limited cassettes “MCCV” in 2016 and “Secondary Drowning” in 2018 on the Amek label. Nowa Ziemia is the project of Artur Krychowiak, whose earlier releases run from the 2014 compilation “Trajektorie” on Eg0cide Productions to the CDr album “Sceneria” on Music Is The Weapon in 2015 and the limited CD compilation “Holter / Fuse” on Zoharum in 2018.

“Substrate” is their first collaborative release. Zoharum issued it on 30 June 2021 in Poland as a limited CD and as a limited cassette. It carries two long tracks, “Substrate A” at 18:06 and “Substrate B” at 16:24, both written and produced by Krychowiak and Petkov. Neither artist has announced a follow-up under the pairing.

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