[Reviewed by stark]
A.T.M.O.M. is a completely unknown name to me. I don’t even know what this abbreviation stands for, but Zhelezobeton is known of promoting little known, mostly Russian projects, and after listening to their releases I’m often glad that they gave me the opportunity.
Contrary what the cover may suggest, the title of the disc and the individual tracks are not exactly cosmic dark ambient (I stumble upon it very often recently; see reviews of Phantom Ship and Sphäre Sechs put up somewhere nearby). Taras Voloschuk, a native of Krasnoyarsk currently living in St. Petersburg, is very fluent in electronic ambient and the music on “Andromeda” has in fact quite the cosmic character, but the prefix “dark” is totally unnecessary, as it’s aspect is definitely more dreamy, building upon the artist’s awe at the power of the cosmos rather than his fear of it. The desire for knowledge, moving off into the unknown, even if it’s just a one-way ticket.
From the first seconds of “Earth Shine” space sparkles with thousands of colors. It tempts with its beauty; abstract paintings, that couldn’t be born in even the most creative earthly mind. Taras gives his best to try to capture such an atmosphere at least in some small part and – at least according to his abilities – he manages to do it. It’s thanks to the sound, which is strong and clear, yet not so crystal clear that the whole thing would seem artificially sterile.
Of course, several names come to mind during the lecture of “Andromeda”, and these are mostly the names of the classics: Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream… here and there I noticed the echoes of Biosphere and Klaus Wiese. This is why the disc has a certain “vintage” flavour; yet it’s hard to talk about mindless copying. Rather consider this work as created with great respect for the masters, without going beyond what has long been said in this kind of music, obviously. It’s not possible anymore I guess, but that’s not the point. It’s important that the music is how it should be. Taras captured the essence of this sound.
“Andromeda” is released by Zhelezobeton on CDr in an edition of 77 copies. In two compositions A.T.M.O.M. is assisted by other musicians, once again – at least to me – little known, that is Glasberg and O.N.E. (what the hell is their point with these abbreviations). For fans of the electronic ambient classics it’s a thing worth recommending. And if someone doesn’t feel like immersing in such moods, they can get it anyway and use “Andromeda” as a soundtrack to read some space opera or classic sci-fi, preferably one of several decades ago, something by Asimov or Arthur C. Clarke. In such forms the album comes true as well.
A.T.M.O.M. – Andromeda
Zhelezobeton, ZHB-XLII
CD/Digital 2014
Santa Sangre 