Drift In Sodom

There’s something to be said for predictability. While the experimental has its merits, sometimes there’s no substitute for good old standard-issue. For example, I love adventurous fusion cuisine, but there are moments when nothing but fast food will do it for me, and it’s satisfying in some profound way I don’t need (or want) to understand. That’s why I keep going back to it, right?

This is precisely why albums like Drift in Sodom are valuable. In Meditarivm, the dark ambient outlet of the versatile Olegh Kolyada, who also runs the equally diverse Old Captain imprint in addition to being involved with multiple side-projects, delivers a solid listening experience that doesn’t stray far from genre staples. You’ll hear slow-motion chords and drones, scattered samples, and a general feeling of quiet contemplation, all arranged to flow smoothly, without fuss or bizarre instrumentation. Drift in Sodom isn’t a long album, but since it’s so consistent, it loops beautifully. This is all the more remarkable since two of the tracks, “Solitaria” and “Silentia,” were previously released.

Drift in Sodom fits its title perfectly: it gathers you in and guides you with minimal distractions and through lofty, empty halls. Kolyada has done a fine job evoking a particular atmosphere; there’s little threat in these half-lit places yet plenty of haunting potential. “White are the Bones of Men” layers on the darkness in delicious fashion, with cleverly placed samples moving between speakers and well-formed drones creating a wonderfully deep space. It’s the perfect backdrop for exploring an abandoned castle while moonlight streams in through high windows, playing upon tattered tapestries gone gray and ragged with age. “Sound of Mountain” may have an unusual title, but the emotive keyboards and gentle sounds of wind conjure a strong sense of awe. It’s easy to imagine oneself pausing at a balcony in our vast castle, gazing forth at distant peaks frosted by ice and starlight.

It would be easy, and perhaps even tempting, to dismiss In Meditarivm as unoriginal and superlative. It’s albums like Drift in Sodom, however, that show the value of a work that delivers its content in a straightforward manner. By the way, I don’t mean to imply that this album is the fast-food version of dark ambient; oh no, it’s certainly more than that. Kolyada has keen insight into what makes the genre so attractive, and he knows how to make good on it. He adds just enough exotic strings and pipes to “Black Ziggurat” to communicate place and time without being too blatant; the track becomes an ode to a fallen empire that once ruled the land with glory.

There isn’t much of a cohesive concept in Drift in Sodom, but when the music is delivered with such poise, it doesn’t need one. Ignore the track titles and let yourself sink in; not every album needs to engage you on multiple levels. You may have heard these basic sounds before, but that doesn’t mean Drift in Sodom isn’t a keeper; they’re put together with careful and patient efficiency. Don’t be surprised if this is an album you return to. I listen to a good deal of dark ambient, and this is one I keep revisiting. Every collection needs solid, reliable works like this.

by Edward Rinderle for Heathen Harvest
Source URL: http://heathenharvest.org/2015/10/27/in-meditarivm-drift-in-sodom/