Genre/Influences: Dark-ambient, soundscape, experimental.

Background/Info: The brand-new Hots label moves on with a second production from the German dark-ambient project B° Tong. Chris Sigdell now explores a concept dealing with the impact of extreme emotions on the human mind. This new work by B° Tong has again been released on vinyl format.

Content: B° Tong remains faithful to its familiar influences and sound elements. The tracks are mixing industrial sounds, obscure atmospheres and pure experimentalism featuring field recordings. The work sounds more improvised than other B° Tong releases, but you’ll recognize the sonic label of Chris Sigdell.

+ + + : Both albums released on Hots are quite comparable and yet different. “Fractured” sounds more diversified and carried by numerous sound treatments. The ambient side of the work remains pretty intriguing, perfectly transposing the original concept of this work into a particular sonic experience. “Eternus” is a brilliant and spooky-like composition featuring great industrial sound aspects.

– – – : Just as the previous album of B° Tong released on Hots “Fractured” also has this experimental approach, which isn’t accessible for a wider audience. This is music conceived for experts in this kind of music.

Conclusion: What I like with B° Tong is the global different approach in sound and composition. It’s all based on familiar elements and yet it has something different. “Fractured” is the perfect match between dark-ambient, soundscape, industrial sounds and experimentalism.

Best songs: “Eternus”, “Abandon They Soul To Sheol”.

Rate: (6).

Artist: www.btongmusic.com / www.facebook.com/btongmusic

Label: https://hots.bandcamp.com

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Dark-ambient, soundscape.

Background/Info: Chris Sigdell better known as B° Tong is a prolific artist dealing with dark-ambient and dark-soundscape experiments. This new work is the first production released on the brand-new Spanish label Hots. The vinyl format is strictly limited to 100 copies.

Content: This work features 2 long duration cuts. Both tracks reveal a slow progression inviting the listener to walk through a dark and somewhat mysterious soundscape. You’ll notice industrial sound elements and numerous field recordings. It totally fits with the conceptual approach behind this work dealing with a German expedition early 1939 throughout an uncharted area of Antarctica.

The track was played during live concerts and had to be separated in 2 cuts for this vinyl release.

+ + + : You feel a kind of improvisation in the writing, which is however pretty accessible. I like the progression throughout the cuts and especially the harder passages featured at the B-side cut. Both cuts are pretty complementary so I wasn’t surprised discovering that it originally featured one single cut. You feel like being lost in a dark sonic labyrinth. I like the somewhat dark-abstract artwork of this vinyl.

– – – : This kind of production remains pretty minimal and mainly conceived for a very restricted number of music lovers.

Conclusion: B° Tong remains a particular experience in sound so if you’re in search of something ‘extreme’ and yet still accessible this is an interesting release to look out for.

Best songs: “The Sun Is A Hollow Fetish Of Mine”.

Rate: (6½).

Artist: www.btongmusic.com / www.facebook.com/btongmusic

Label: https://hots.bandcamp.com

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

www.side-line.com