Sphäre Sechs – Beta Pictoris (Album – Cryo Chamber)
Genre/Influences: Cinematographic, Dark-Ambient.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: After two albums released on Malignant Records, “Beta Pictoris” is the third album of Sphäre Sechs released on Cryo Chamber. The duo Martin Stürtzer (also involved with Phelios) – Christian Stritzel have been inspired by the exoplanet Beta Pictoris to compose seven tracks.
Content: This album is mainly driven by impressive, heavy sound waves. The global atmosphere has something dreamy-like, but still pretty freaky and overwhelming. This sonic trip is moving from aquatic field recordings towards total minimalism and a kind of imaginary visit in a sonic glasshouse.
+ + + : The global sound production is absolutely devastating. There’s an impressive power emerging from the sounds and that’s probably due to analogue sound treatments. It creates a part of magic, which has something space-like and totally in harmony with the concept of the work. “Planetesimal Debris” and “Infrared Emission” both are brilliant exposures of this sound approach. I also have to mention “Seeking The Infinite” and “Collapsing Cloud” for their minimalism and intriguing atmosphere. Every single track feels like being part of a great sonic puzzle.
– – – : I don’t see major minus points on this album, which is well-crafted and balanced.
Conclusion: “Beta Pictoris” is an album influenced by an intriguing theme and transposed into a fascinating Dark-Cinematographic experience. A must have for the fans in the genre.
Best songs: “Planetesimal Debris”, “Infrared Emission”, “Seeking The Infinite”, “Collapsing Cloud”.
Rate: 8.
Artist: www.facebook.com/sphaere.sechs
Label: www.cryochamberlabel.com / www.facebook.com/CryoChamber
About Sphäre Sechs
Sphäre Sechs is the ambient duo of Martin Stürtzer, also known for Phelios, and Christian Stritzel. The two have played together since 2001 and record in improvised live or studio sessions. Their first album, “Tiefschlaf”, came from a sleeping concert held in a church in Wuppertal, and “Enceladus” followed. Side-Line reviewed the latter as Sphäre Sechs – Enceladus (CD Album – Tumor/Malignant Records).
The duo then moved to Cryo Chamber, where Side-Line covered Sphäre Sechs – Particle Void (CD Album – Cryo Chamber) in 2018 and Sphäre Sechs – Transient Lunar Phenomenon (CD Album – Cryo Chamber) in 2019.
“Beta Pictoris”, the fifth Sphäre Sechs album, was released on 18 May 2021 and was recorded in Wuppertal in autumn and winter 2020, using material gathered for an improvised online concert played from two cities. Stürtzer handled analog and digital synthesizers, effects, recording and mixing, while Stritzel played Moog Etherwave Pro theremin and worked on effects and mixing. Simon Heath mastered the album and Erik Osvald supplied the artwork. The seven tracks are named after features of the exoplanet system that gives the record its title.
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