Hierophant Nox

EP REVIEW

Aleph Naught - Coagula
Twilight Luggage
Aleph Naught’s “Coagula” is a masterclass in subtlety. Even after repeated listens I couldn’t say precisely what makes it so uncanny and haunting, after all, the majority of its 30-odd minutes is comprised of droning, chiming tones, undramatic and cool. I think it must have something to do with the way this release draws you in, beginning in calmness and solitude before quietly yet devastatingly introducing the idea that you might not be alone, and the company might not be friendly. Or human.

That Aleph Naught is a rather secretive act heightens the sense of unease; a number of cassette and CD-R releases exist, but this isn’t a project with a stated intent, or easily interpreted repeated themes. Track titles won’t prepare you for the auditory experience but will chime into the dark corners of your imagination – on this release, how about “Putrefactio” or “The Bleeding Sun”, or previously, “The Dreams in the Witch House”. The lack of known details, or handholds of comprehension, does not render Aleph Naught less relevant or creepy.

“Cast the Seed into the Field of Night” is the opener to “Coagula”, a coldly blooming exploration of the nocturnal world which is shimmering, sparse and ghostly. It’s a calm, meditative track and is enjoyable as such, but it is also ambiguous – not directly threatening, but without any natural warmth, or cresting hope. “Putrefactio” confirms the suspicion that all is not right – it’s not a huge departure in style of course, components such as chiming, drawn-out drones being identical to its predecessor, but here nature is out of synch. There’s sinister laughter somewhere under the fuzz, a discordant burn that ebbs and flows in menacing intensity. “The Burning Sun” has a high, searing start played over more ominous, bassy tones, and again it’s the out-of-place, alien chimes that play with your mind. “Black Days Will Come” finishes proceedings with unknown clangs in the droning depths, which purr low and seem to glisten in the ear.

“Coagula”, as you may have guessed, is a mightily difficult release to describe, but if you are a fan of classy, subtle dark ambient, you could do much worse than giving this a try. You’ll be hard pressed, like me, to say precisely what happens as you listen to it, but you’ll know that it’s not right. Get yourselves over to Twilight Luggage’s website and shake your skulls up a bit.