ETHER OR

This second album from SUBARACHNOID SPACE is definitely ambient, mysterious and experimental. "Ether Or" features mostly long improvised pieces of growing, deep and dark psychedelic music. Often dissonant and tortured, but always inspired.

The record opens with the terrifying introduction of "Circular Motion". Textures of sounds make you travel into a lost far away black hole. Then drums and reverb guitars appears, adding a little indian touch to the song. "Whispers of Momentum" is the most spacey moment of the disc, with its mystical riff and its elongated guitar improvisations, sometimes reminiscent of PINK FLOYD's "Careful with That Axe, Eugene". The next track, "Flicker", is the oddest here and has a pleasant early gothic feel. Darkness and mystery come back with "Shady Character", the most agressive and iciest tune of the album.

In opposite, "Repetitive Smile" is rather calm and very relaxing. The listener is in the sky while listening. After arrives the longest track, "A Collection of Smoke". The first part makes me think of DEAD CAN DANCE's early acts and is one of the best passages of the record with its energic drumming and yelling guitars, as if a giant beast was trying to escape from its cage. The second part is much more calm, preparing to sonic explosions and collisions in the final part. Mindblowing! The disc concludes with "Don't Look in the Mirror", an average short experimental ambient track.

"Ether Or" alternates long evolving pieces and shorter tunes, tortured passages, energic playing and calmer moments. A good release from SUBARACHNOID SPACE. If you are into psychedelia or dark music, this disc is for you!