S.E.T.I. – The Sphere Of Density (Album – Zoharum)
Genre/Influences: Dark-Ambient, Cinematographic.
Format: Digital, 2 CD.
Background/Info: Andrew Lagowski has been involved with numerous projects, but Lagowski and S.E.T.I. definitely belong to the most renowned ones. 2020 seems to be a prolific year for this artist as he first released a new Lagowski-work and now moves on with S.E.T.I. The first disc features five new tracks while the second disc is a live recording.
Content: The new songs are leading the listener into a dark, imaginary world. The tracks are progressively evolving, being composed with multiple sound effects, different noises and field recordings. The sound has something ominous, like announcing something bad and evil… leading the visitor through an imaginary gallery of horror. The tracks are extended; one is even going over the 23 minutes.
The second album is a live recording that took place at “XVIII Wroclaw Industrial Festival”. It’s a one shot cut, totally improvised, but here again revealing an impressive sound/noise arsenal that will get you in its grip for more than 40 minutes.
+ + + : Andrew Lagowski simply confirms he’s an artist with different faces and sides, but he feels comfortable dealing with all sides of his creative brain. He’s a master in the way he built up his dark-ambient universe, mixing a truly sonic palette of noises, field recordings and studio effects. The last track of this album (cf. “11th Dimension”) clearly demonstrates the man’s way of working. It’s a truly labyrinth of noises and effects, which you’ll clearly distinguish by using headphones. And he confirms this meticulous way of composing at the improvised live track. I can’t say I’ve been fascinated by the entire cut, but some of the monstrous sound treatments and string parts are irresistible.
– – – : As I already mentioned, I’m not entirely convinced by the live recording, but nevertheless if an artist plays one or more cuts, there’re always parts that can’t totally convince.
Conclusion: This is a new noticeable work by this great artist, who has a very own approach and sound.
Best songs: “11th Dimension”, “Maze”.
Rate: (8).
Artist: www.lagowski.com / www.facebook.com/wirescience
Label: www.zoharum.com / www.facebook.com/zoharum
Support Side-Line
More people read Side-Line than ever, and there is still no paywall and no advertising. Readers pay for it instead - from $5 a month.
Why we ask
Advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations we have not put up a paywall, and we refuse to add annoying advertising, so we need to ask for your help. Side-Line’s independent journalism takes time, money and hard work to produce, and we do it to push the artists we like, who are equally fighting to survive.
Handled by PayPal.
I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
