Genre/Influences: Dark-Ambient, Experimental, Minimal-Electro. 

Format: Digital, CD. 

Background/Info: Unexplained Sounds Group already released two compilations devoted to the Experimental music from Scandinavia. Both productions were released as digital formats. The label now selected twelve from these tracks to release a CD. 

Artists: Jukka-Pekka Kervinen, Andreas Karperyd, Lars Bröndum, Øystein Jørgensen, Havdis, Dödsapparaten, Vääristymä, Claus Poulsen, Untermensch, Castana, Jurko Haltuu, Sysselmann.

Content: This compilation mixes Dark-Ambient and pure Electro/Experimental-Minimalism. It’s not just classical Dark-Ambient music, but a selection revealing artists with an open-minded approach, incorporating more Electronic sound treatments and sequences into their work. Other parts are carried by monstrous sound blasts and grimy atmospheres while the very last cuts reveal an Experimental walk.

+ + + : Scandinavia remains a prolific ground for Dark-Ambient, Industrial and Experimental artists, and is still a reservoir of talented artists. This compilation is not exactly revealing totally unknown artists –most of them having already released an impressive number of works, but they’re clearly not the most familiar ones. So in the end Unexplained Sounds Group creates a new opportunity to discover interesting music like the pure Dark-Ambient opener from Jukka-Pekka Kervinen. I also want to mention the minimalism exposed by Øystein Jørgensen and Havdis. But my favorite cuts are bringing us back to Dark-Ambient fields, first with the overwhelming sound treatments of Claus Poulsen and next the tormented and chilling track by Untermensch.

– – – : In the end this compilation doesn’t bring that much new as all tracks were previously released, but some of them have been now immortalized on CD. 

Conclusion: This CD issue is a perfect opportunity to complete your selection of this great compilation series. 

Best bands: Untermensch, Claus Poulsen, Havdis, Øystein Jørgensen, Jukka-Pekka Kervinen, Vääristymä.

Rate: 7½.

Label: www.facebook.com/unexplainedsoundsgroup

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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.

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