Stormloop – Snowbound*

Before I go into the details of this review, I’d like to take a moment and talk about the label. Glacial Movements is an Italian label, specializing in “glacial and isolationist ambient”, founded and curated by Alessandro Tedeschi, also known as Netherworld. The label was launched in July of 2006, with a customary introductory compilation. The second catalog release was Netherworld’s Mørketid (2007), followed by Rapoon‘s Time Frost (2007). The minimalist aesthetic of the dark ambiance and icy drone continued with releases by Lull, Skare, Aqua Dorsa, and Francisco López.

I finally discovered the label with a beautiful album by bvdub, The Art Of Dying Alone (2010), and then kept my ears open for Netherworld‘s follow up, Over The Summit (2011), Loscil‘s Coast/ Range/ Arc (2011), and of course bvdub‘s return for the interpretations on Tedeschi’s above mentioned first release - I (Translations Of Mørketid). It’s no wonder that the label quickly climbed to the top of my favorites, as I tracked down and purchased the back catalog.

Yes, fans of Biosphere, William Basinski, Deathprod, and the minimalism of Taylor Deupree, Robert Henke, Richard Chartier and Yann Novak will appreciate any and all of the above mentioned albums. Not to mention the most amazing release schedule from Pjusk, Marsen Jules, Phobos, Aidan Baker & Troum, and Celer!!! Did that get you excited? OK, now back to Snowbound!

Stormloop is the brainchild of Leeds based (England) Kev Spence, who has been producing and self-releasing ambient albums since 1999. There are about a dozen albums available via his bandcamp page, if you get hungry for more. Snowbound* (written with an asterisk), is Spence’s very first release for a record label, and it is a perfect fit for Glacial Movements! Collecting the material recorded during a two-week snow fall in December of 2009, the album tells the story of solitude and detachment through slow evolving sound and straightforward titles such as “Cold Winds”, “Dense Fog”, “Melt” and “A Blizzard”.

Soft layers of synth pads and bass drift through the landscape like a heavy cloud. It is impossible to avoid references to early mist, murky fog and smoky vapor when describing a hazy atmosphere painted by Spence. But unlike the organic ambiance of guitars and strings by some of the above mentioned artists, the music of Stormloop is a little synthetic, spacey and futuristic. As if Snowbound* is a soundtrack for an alien planet, covered in gaseous atmosphere and frozen rock. Wind picks up, but it lacks the oxygen. Instead it is thick with heavier elements that cover the caverns hungry for sun. Just writing these words with the music in the background sent chills down my spine…

Spence has also released a complimentary album, Snowbound** The Tracks Left In The Snow, as a ten track digital-only via his bandcamp, recorded during the same sessions as Snowbound*. Photography by Bjarne Riesto is once again featured on this Glacial Movements release, adding to the overall aesthetic of the label that I’m falling in love with… Now I need to go and boil some water for my green tea…

Stormloop "Snowbound*" CD

In Leeds, UK, based sound journeyer Kevin Spence, who records as Stormloop, celebrates with "Snowbound*" his debut CD album. Released in November 2011 on Italian label Glacial Movements that covers glacial and isolationist ambient territory. Even if CD premiere for Stormloop, this project has already released another 12 albums that are accompanied by gorgeous artworks/images created by Kevin Spence. As usual for all Glacial Movements releases, the first impression is always breathtaking due to stunning photographs of Bjarne Riesto and cover design by Keep Adding. Let's explore the sonics now. The opening composition "Snowbound" perfectly portrays the images of this release. I am writing these lines at the very last day of 2011, there is no snow outside yet here in Bratislava, Slovakia, but my listening room is immediately invaded by arctic snowscapes of Stormloop's intro melting graceful atmospheric ambience at its most coldest with distant, cyborg-like femme voice samples. During this 8-plus minutes long intro I am swiftly transported into these vast open and unknown, yet undiscovered white landscapes. Freezing deep drones of "Cold Winds" are enriched with flute-like sounds and various hisses and evoke quite mysterious feel, but always ice cold. Experimental windy drifts occupy the next piece, "A Blizzard", it's getting colder and colder, the snow is drifting and blowing. Nicely fitting track title! "A Calm Reflection" strikes with monstrously deep, ice wall of drones and opens the gates of great ice chasm to explore fascinating cavern. Shorter "Melt" brings to the fore fragile sounds of flowing water merged with celestial choir-like washes, pure tranquility, this time a bit warmer! Follows another shorter piece, "Dense Fog" that returns immediately into more monumental and reverberate dronescape territory. "Drifting-Decent" keeps on the shadowy route, but slightly lighter than its predecessor. It flows peacefully above immense arctic glaciers and plateaus. "Losing Sleep" is more uplifting with distant and repetitive trancey grooves. "Space Station J" is true to its name as it is invaded by aerial and tranquil soundwashes, enriched by distant and fragile mid-tempo strings and by occasional, darkened femme voices. "Cygnus" closes this magnificent voyage with deeply mysterious and minimal drifts with slowly breathing texture, this time colored with ghostly male voice samples. Grandiose outro!!! "Snowbound*" is highly absorbing and panoramic journey through spectacular vistas covered by snow and ice, a very strong CD debut by Stormloop!!! Please note, this album was recorded in longer time span, during the winters of 2005 and 2009 and there is bunch of tracks left that didn't make the final selection. All these extra tracks are now available as "Snowbound**-The Tracks Left In The Snow", release, so act now!!!

Richard Gürtler (Dec 31, 2011, Bratislava, Slovakia)