Ruptured World – Xenoplanetary (Album – Cryo Chamber)
Genre/Influences: Cinematic.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: Alistair Rennie strikes back with the sixth album of his sonic alter-ego Ruptured World. It also is the fourth work in the “Planetary”-concept series, this time entering ‘a domain of ultimate strangeness—an alien eco-system of forested peaks and escarpments that conceal a raft of secrets in the hidden valleys that lie among them.’
Content: Ruptured World brings a mix of Cinematic atmospheres and storytelling. It sounds pretty astral with a weird, sci/fi-inspired theme as the main source of inspiration. Sound-wise there are passages reminding me a bit of early Electro-Ambient pioneers.
+ + + : This is a truly a unique work for its storytelling aspect which is however never dominant. That creates an intriguing sensation accentuated by the retro-Ambient space atmospheres of the music. There’re also noticeable subtle bleeps and wafting strings. The conceptual theme of the work is permanently coming through.
– – – : A cool work by this underrated British artist which is however not the most accessible one.
Conclusion: “Xenoplanetary” is a strange travel through unknown, imaginary, spaces. You get the sensation of watching a movie without images…
Best songs: “The Telekinetic Amassment Of Being”, “Emergency Thought – Cast Distance Messaging”, “The Magnitude Of Luminiscence”.
Rate: 7½.
Artist: www.rupturedworld.com / www.facebook.com/RupturedWorld
Label: www.cryochamberlabel.com / www.facebook.com/CryoChamber
About Ruptured World
Ruptured World is the dark ambient solo project of British writer Alistair Rennie, released through the Cryo Chamber label run by Simon Heath. The project debuted with the album “Exoplanetary” in August 2018, followed by “Archeoplanetary” (2019), “Interplanetary” (2020) and “Shore Rituals” (2021), part of a wider body of work combining dark ambient composition with Rennie’s own cosmic-horror-inspired writing.
“Xenoplanetary,” reviewed here, is the fourth album in Ruptured World’s “Planetary” series, released in January 2023. Rennie followed it with “Void Rituals” in February 2024.
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