Artist: Skelm
Title: Susurrus Whispers From Unwelcoming Realms
Type: Album
Label: Digital / Gobemouche Productions
Just a moment of admiration for ‘susurrus’. It’s been an age since Ive seen that word used. Ahem. Right. This album review is another in what appears to be a good pattern with me; I hear a split and it gets me into investigating one of the bands or projects that I don’t know a little further and more pathways open up.
This is I think Skelm’s third full length (but I’ll be honest I’m utterly lost as to what is an EP or a full length these days…). It consists of two long tracks on bandcamp, but… well… is it?
Side A, as noted, begins with that wonderful approach I caught in the Archer split. The main synth is echoing, atmospheric and full of a sense of place. But its the superb way in which the variations come and go whilst keeping this most definitely in the old school dungeon synth camp. The layering of brief melodies that enter, fade and return, the variety of sounds, the quality of the recording. It makes you think of that title; the wolrd in your mind and those voice flitting and breathing their words and suggestions and desires. It pauses around the four twenty mark and a new and different air pervades -This is less claustrophobic and insular. There is a lightness, a feeling of clean air in the flowing synth work and even when a deeper layer creeps in and the pan-pipe sound whispers they snatch at you less and insteady lead you. The third passage around the eight and a half minute mark has the most heart aching, beautiful opneing melody; that sound that is both deeply personal but opens up the epic world around you. The moment the protagonist steps out onto the irreversible path, the events swirling around them with fear, determination and awe. A moment of breath with a simple melody, stripping that tune down to its simple lonely components to fade. Quite masterful really.
Side B begins with gentle, even warm notes and once more it is the almost imperceptible building on this which leaves you in a place as though one by one small lights bloom in the darkness. They rise, pulse and turn slowly and as the percussion begins they come together in one dance. It is quite beautifully woven, such a talented touch. Once more we reach a break, and the music returns with a harp sound, slow notes and a woodwind accompaniment. It’s a sweet, pastoral moment. A rest and a small world to rest within. The nest passage builds upon organ sounds, but instead of some grandiose cathedral sound it is more akin to a player alone in an empty space and slowly they are joined, perhaps by the music in their head which bubble and drift and turn around this central theme. They take the player away into a world of synth and twirling piano, a waltz where the musican beneath the huge sounds is both exposed and seen as the wellspring for this glorious sound created simply for themselves.
Rather much the world of dungeon synth itself perhaps? I like to think so.
I love the approach and huge talent that Skelm is building on here. This is effectively six passages split into sides (for the forthcoming tape?) and is at times the sound of a quiet madness, and the softest moments of peace and reflection before finally for me, the non-musical listener, a small musical celebration of what this genre is about.
Twenty three, twenty four minutes of captivating music. Sometimes almost cinematic, other times withdrawn and deeply introverted, but always somehow connected. Just excellent.
Gizmo
Susurrus Whispers from Unwelcoming Realms | Skelm…
Gobemouche Production (tapes forthcoming)
Walking The Liminal Space 