Artist: Phelios
Album: Obsidian Forest
Label: Loki Foundation
Release date: November 2024
Back in the days of full-blown COVID, I was convinced that most musicians - especially those dabbling in the art of dark ambient - would use the forced respite from the usual tempo of life to record and release new music. Yet somehow, that turned out not to be the case, and we largely experienced a lull in new releases across the board. Such is the case with Phelios, the (dare I say flagship) project of the German musician Martin Stürtzer, who released his previous album under the Phelios moniker way back in 2020, an unusually long time ago for a usually prolific artist. To be fair, the relative absence of Phelios was compensated by a string of releases under Martin's other monikers (notably the one bearing his own name), but still, it was obvious that something rather different was gestating in the background.
It doesn't take long into Obsidian Forest to realise that this has indeed been the case. This album showcases a very different facet of Phelios, one that discards the darker aspects of the project's back catalogue for a more contemplative experience, a trade-off that may well come as a surprise to long-time fans. Unlike the monumental, expansive and occasionally cosmic sound of previous albums, Obsidian Forest is deeply rooted in the Earth, depicting a sense of time rather than space. In addition to the melodies often espoused by the artist, the sound on this release relies heavily on tribal rhythms, giving the music a very primal feeling that takes the listener back in time to the dawn of mankind. As the cover art suggests, the atmosphere is thick and dense, supported by deep drones that serve as background to lighter, more recognisable compositions at the forefront. There is a sense of foreboding emanating from the tracks, but also of the indomitable human spirit of exploration, where the thirst for knowledge inevitably overcomes the fear of the unknown. As the album progresses and the sounds of ancient forests slowly give way to hints of lost civilizations, Obsidian Forest reveals the fact that, despite its overtly sylvan focus, it's ultimately a human story. This sensation culminates in Stargazer, perhaps my favourite part of this release, which evokes mankind's simultaneous fascination with and utter incomprehension of the world surrounding it. The final track, Voices of Dawn, also the album's longest, serves as a beautiful, melancholic outro, inspiring a yearning for a simpler time and bringing this voyage to a peaceful, satisfying close.
Obsidian Forest remains a surprising departure from the usual Phelios sound, but is nevertheless a well-crafted and well-told piece of ambient music. It lacks a bit of the chasmal depth of the previous few albums, which makes it unlikely to rank among my favourite Phelios releases, but what it lacks in darkness it makes up for in storytelling. I do feel like the album would have benefitted from a bit more variety, knowing the soundscapes that the artist is capable of conjuring, but I simultaneously respect the decision to defy expectations and explore new musical territories, especially so late into a well-established career. A worthwhile sonic journey to take in any case.
Rating: 8/10
Comentarios