Genre/Influences: Dark-ambient, dark-cinematographic.
Format: Digital, Double CD.
Background/Info: The album marks the return of Italian composer Gabriele Panci aka ‘Stielh’. “The Outside” is the first album since 2011 and the fourth chapter in a conceptual soundtrack, which took off in 2007 with the album “Whispers Of The Approaching Wastefulness”. “Crossing The Withered Regions” (2009) and “Loneliness Of Hidden Structures” (2011) both were the next albums in the series. The main idea is that ‘after centuries of isolation the human race begins a journey in search of the causes that led to the end of its world, and for the first time it approaches the Structures, new life forms that have developed and evolved in the emptiness of “The Outside”. The second disc features older tracks that have been remixed by other artists.
Content: The main disc is a true fusion between dark-ambient music and pure cinematographic music. It feels like music for ghosts who are haunting lost places. The composer creates a dark sonic universe leaving the listener into suffocation. Whispering vocal effects and multiple little noises are awakening our darkest fantasies of angst. The tracks have been meticulously conceived and each single noise has been accentuated to empower the atmosphere the listener will have to get through.
The second disc features 8 remixes by Sysselmann, Visions, Taphephobia, Phantom Ship, Vestigial, Apocryphos, TeHôM and New Risen Throne himself.
+ + + : It all depends what you like to hear when listening to this kind of work, but the visual strength of the production is definitely an element making me say it’s a successful work. The power of the composition lays in little details, the author mixing an impressive arsenal of noises together. It feels a bit like ambient music that has been composed with a scalpel. The sphere hanging over the album has something ominous. Both last cuts from the album create the ultimate climax of fright.
Among the remixes I especially recommend the remixes of Vestigial and Visions. Globally speaking this second disc is an interesting way to rediscover older cuts, which have been accentuated by different elements from the remixers.
– – – : I’m not a huge fan of albums filled with remixes and it’s even something rare for this music style. So I have some reservations about it, but I have to admit there are a few noticeable cuts on it. Let’s consider it as a nice bonus to the main disc.
Conclusion: “The Outside” is a cool resurrection from a talented dark-ambient musician.
Best songs: “The Outside IV”, “Birth Of A New Disciple II”, “What We Have Seen” + “Echoes From The Loss – Visions Remix”, “Sad Silent Prostrations Before The Monolith – Vestigial Remix”.
Rate: (8).
