Genre/Influences: Cinematographic, Dark-Ambient, Experimental.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: “Back To Beyond” is the second album composed as a collaboration between Iranian Mehdi Saleh (Alphaxone) and Ukrainian Sasha Cats (ProtoU). The album has been released four years after “Stardust”, both artists also have worked with countless other artists while releasing their own solo-albums. 

Content: I experienced “Stardust” rather as a soundscape while the new work sounds more diversified. It remains a dark Cinematic journey carried by obscure tones, buzzing sound waves and field recordings, but I also noticed droning effects and Electronic sound manipulations reflecting a true minimal approach right at the final part of the work.

+ + + : Both artists became experienced musicians who’re used to working with other artists and especially label mates. There’s a true symbiosis between both sound universes, but I think this album goes much further than “Stardust”. It’s different and incomparable, but I prefer this album’s diversity. I like the surprising minimalistic sound treatments running through “Myriad Disguises”, which sounds like an unexpected finale. Another great cut is “Dreams Of Solace” carried by drone effects and repetitive sequences.

– – – : Collaborative efforts between label mates resulting in albums make the particularity of Cryo Chamber, but there isn’t always a true chemistry. It sounds like there’s something special between Alphaxone and ProtoU so move on working together guys instead of other collaborations.

Conclusion: This album makes me think of a dark and contemporary approach of Wim Wenders.

Best songs: “Myriad Disguises”, “Dreams Of Solace”, “Future Underground”, “Through The Golden Dust”.

Rate: 8.

Artists: www.facebook.com/alphaxone / www.facebook.com/protoudrone

Label: www.cryochamberlabel.com /  www.facebook.com/CryoChamber

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.

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Genre/Influences: Dark-soundscape, experimental.

Background/Info: Ukrainian female artist Sasha Cats is a real prolific artist who unleashed her third full length album since 2015 while she also released some more productions in collaboration with other artists. The picture from the front cover revealing a futuristic image of an unknown city stands for ProtoU’s interest into the future of the modern age.

Content: The work sounds pretty soundscape-like. Sasha Cats takes her listeners by the hand to visit an imaginary universe of dark reverie. The dark sound waves and multiple field recordings don’t exactly reflect a vision of terror rather than a paranoiac sensation. It all feels relaxing and yet you can feel an invisible presence. So in the end you can’t really relax, but you remain on your guard. Low, resonating sound treatments are quite progressively reaching their ultimate point symbolized by the track “Hidden City”.

+ + + : ProtoU isn’t the kind of artist who repeats itself. There still is this delicate flavor of reverie supporting the tracks, but this album is more into a soundscape approach. The composition is slowly built up like a dream and progressively reaching a climax on a few cuts. The field recordings accentuate the visual side of the work. It’s hard to say if this project has something more sensitive because it’s been composed by a female artist, but ProtoU always has had a more refined and subtle approach in sound.

– – – : When ambient music moves towards the edge of soundscape experience it also sounds more similar. I’m missing some diversity between the tracks.

Conclusion: Sasha Cats constantly explores new ideas each time again revealing a different side of her creative brain. I can’t say this is my favorite ProtoU album although it’s a captivating creation deserving your attention!

Best songs: “Hidden City”, “Falling Home”, “Fracture”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.facebook.com/protoudrone

Label: www.cryochamberlabel.com /  www.facebook.com/CryoChamber

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, experimental, soundscape.

Background/Info: “Alpine Respire” resulted from the common efforts between Cryo Chamber artist Sasha Cats (aka ProtoU) and Bryan Hilyard (aka Hilyard). It also is a collaboration between artists from different continents. Ukrainian based ProtoU has already released two previous collaboration albums together with Dronny Darko and Alphaxone while Hilyard just released a split work with Elam.

Content: “Alpine Respire” leads us throughout familiar dark sound spheres accomplished with numerous field recordings and some impressive blasting tones. The field recordings definitely are one of the most essential and noticeable elements of the work.

+ + + : If you’re into visual music, the field recordings running through “Alpine Respire” will for sure bring your imagination into action. It creates an experimental exposure, which has been joined by dark-ambient atmospheres. I here especially enjoyed the impressive, vibrating and overwhelming dark tones. The final cut is more into harsher noises and is a great final cut.

– – – : The field recordings have a real important impact on this work and that’s why it sounds maybe a bit too into experimentalism. The tracks are missing a climax and feel a bit monotonous after a while.

Conclusion: ProtoU and Hilyard invite their audience to embark for an obscure trip on an endless sonic ocean, which will appeal for all of your senses.

Best songs: “Alpine Respire”, “Elwha Snowfinger”.

Rate: (6½).

Bands: www.facebook.com/protoudrone / www.facebook.com/hilyardmusic

Label: www.cryochamberlabel.com /  www.facebook.com/CryoChamber

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: “Stardust”-album resulted from the common efforts of Mehdi Saleh (Alphaxone) and Sasha Cats (ProtoU). It also is the meeting between one of the Iranian masters of dark-ambient and the Ukrainian Princess of dark-ambient & space music. The work reveals 7 tracks.

Content: “Stardust” comes closer to a dark soundscape format instead of traditional dark-ambient music. Mixing echoing noises and fragmented voices lost in a surreal space, the tracks reflect dense and obscure sound layers although mixed with some evasive passages.

The tracks have been meticulously built up, creating a fantasy-like sonic cataclysm characterized by compelling sound waves. A few iron-like noises empower the icy flavor recovering this opus.

+ + + : Alphaxone & ProtoU is a real interesting match between the oppressive dark-ambient style of Mehdi Saleh and the more evasive approach of Sasha Cats. Alphaxone became an established and renowned artist while female artist Sasha Cats definitely is becoming one of the newest sensations in a genre dominated by male musicians. “Stardust” is one more release between label mates, which becomes a trademark of Cryo Chamber. Musically the debut part of this work is absolutely worthy of examination and definitely an interesting experience, which I hope will be renewed.

– – – : My only reproach is that Cryo Chamber became a real prolific label –which is a positive evolution, but the releases are progressively sounding a bit too similar to each other. I’m missing a real climax on “Stardust”.

Conclusion: “Stardust” is an interesting meeting between artists hailing from different cultures, but sharing similar sonic interests. The album confirms the talent of Alphaxone and the growing potential of ProtoU.

Best songs: “Planemo Dreams”, “Observing Quasars”.

Rate: (7).

Bands: www.facebook.com/alphaxone / www.facebook.com/protoudrone

Label: www.cryochamberlabel.com /  www.facebook.com/CryoChamber

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

Sasha Cats returns under the ProtoU moniker with her second solo album on Cryo Chamber: “Khmaoch”. Recorded in the Kiev high rise and the Black Room Studio the album explores the eastern esoteric traditions.

Collaborating on the release is flutist Ivan Ioanov playing along the deep drone summons. As with most of the Cryo Chamber releases Simon Heath took care of the crystal clear mastering of the 7 tracks present on this release. Note the extremely beautifully released artwork for this album, it’s just outstanding!

You can preview the album (which can be ordered on CD and as HQ download via Bandcamp) below:

A videoteaser is also available:

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil.

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ProtoU is the solo-project of Sasha Cats. This artist is hailing from Ukraine and has released earlier this year her debut full length “Lost Here” on Cryo Chamber. Sasha thinks that the band name ‘sounds really alienesque’ while it is similar to her favorite ‘Protoss Race’ in “Starcraft” while it also is a digital name for some divices. The dark-ambient creation of this female artist features a fascinating twist between familiar dark-ambient elements and a rather relaxing and imaginary world of reverie.

Q: You seem to be a trained violinist and choir vocalist who grow up with music. What did you learn out of your ‘classical’ study and how did you get in touch with dark-ambient music and related styles?

Sasha: Classical music made me understand the principals of harmony; how sounds should go with each other. Dark-ambient came to me via my best friend and love Dronny Darko. He is my teacher and guide through the darkness.

Q: You last year together with your Dronny Darko released your debut work “Earth Songs”. How did this collaboration happened and what has been your very own input?

Sasha: Well, I gave you a hint in the previous question. Everytime Oleg and I are working together, we have some textures coming out of us. We understand each other very good. I think my personal input concerns the melodic structures and subtle sounds, Oleg made them work together with sound tissues.

Q: “Lost Here” is you real first solo-album, so what does it mean to you to have achieved this solo-work and how would you define this composition?

Sasha: Achieving means that now I can  really show people what I feel and what I want them to experience. Now I know better how to work with concepts. I would define this composition as reflection of calm mind.

Q: What is “Lost Here” all about and what kind of sound did you’d in mind?

Sasha: I am, and always will be wondering about the world of dreams and how twisted in a good way it is. “Lost Here” is dedicated to a dream so every single part of the composition, tracklist, structure and sounds have been planned to be consistent and related to the topic.

Q: Do you have some kind of dark-ambient and/or industrial ‘references’ when it comes to compose music? Tell us a bit more about it?

Sasha: Well, I was listening to dark-ambient for the very first time 4 years ago now. I was listening Dronny Darko, Red Fog, etc. Ambient references are Steve Roach and Asc. But you’ve to know I came from the drum and bass scene so I think it influenced my music as well.

Q: You’re living in Kiev where a lot of political events happened during the past months. In which way have you been affected by this situation as a person and does it still have an influence on your music?

Sasha: There was a scary moment 2 years ago, when revolution started, but it came to a wide-world political mess now. But we’re safe now. We have some territory under fire, but we’re far from it and actually everything is great now. Our country and capital are changing, we have to adapt ourselves to the situation while music can’t be stopped by evil events or people. It was, is and will be forever.

Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

Background/Info: Behind ProtoU is hiding a female artist from Kiev (Ukraine). Sasha Cats grew up with music and is a trained violinist and choir vocalist. She got fascinated by dark-ambient music and set up ProtoU early 2015. She last year together with Dronny Darko released the “Earth Songs”-album on Cryo Chamber.

Content: ProtoU’s official solo debut-work clearly sounds like an experienced artist in the genre. This is an efficient ghost-music production, which is leading the listener to explore the darkest places of his imagination. Filled with numerous field recordings and background drones, the sound atmosphere are filled with an obscure, powerful strength.

But the main characteristic behind this album is the wafting sensation emerging from the songs. It all remains dark and somewhat mysterious-like, but you never get this typical freaky sensation when listening to this genre of music. “Lost here” makes you feel comfortable although alert for what’s coming. Before you really realize what’s going on you are embarked on an astral voyage refined with a few and surprising space-like piano passages. The humming sound waves are there to remind you that this is not a kind of ‘new-age’-trip rather than visiting the ante-chamber of hell.

At the end I can say that this is a sound embraced by evil forces, but which never break through. “Lost Here” is progressively joined by relaxing sound fields, which remain colored by darkness.

+ + + : The main strength of this work is hidden in the imagination from the listener. There are not many dark-ambient releases featuring familiar dark and frightening sound waves mixed with a real relaxing sensation. This opus has been accomplished with subtlelity like revealing an intimate state of mind from the artist.

– – – : I can imagine pure dark-ambient lovers will maybe not find the typical freaky touch on “Lost Here”. It rather sounds like a sound bridge between classical ambient releases and dark-ambient music.

Conclusion: “Lost Here” is mixing different elements of ambient music together, but darkness has been never that enlightening! ProtoU has this little touch of magic transforming music towards a real artistic dimension.

Best songs: “The Sea”, “The Map”, “Unreal Symbols”.

Rate: (8).

Band: www.facebook.com/protoudrone

Label: www.cryochamberlabel.com /  www.facebook.com/CryoChamber

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

After her split debut “Earth Songs” with Dronny Darko in 2015, protoU (aka Sasha Cats) now returns with her solo debut album “Lost Here” holding 6 tracks which offer low key drone work accentuated with field recordings.

The album is available as download and on CD from the Cryo Chamber Bandcamp page. Next to that you can also order a 2CD bundle right there holding the “Earth Songs” (protoU & Dronny Darko) CD and the new “Lost Here” album. All CDs come in a 6 panel full color digipak.

Sasha – also a trained violinist and choir vocalist – works out of her home in Kiev, Ukraine and is a promising young creative artist in the dark ambient scene.

You can listen to the release below. Keep an eye on this artist, she’s a stayer for sure!

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil.

side-line.com