Six Impending Clouds by Netherworld

It might lack the storied consideration of Lull, or the tempered consideration of Lustmord, but the emotional schema at play won’t make any less an impact. Careful with that ax, Eugene."

-Darren Bergstein, e|i Magazine

"I guess it's an appropriate day to write about Alessandro Tedeschi's project: it was snowing heavily when I received his discs, and it's snowing now as well... "Six Impending Clouds", on Ben Fleury Steiner's Gears of Sand, is Netherworld's most recent release, following some excellent releases on Umbra Records which I'll partly review later. The minimal and well designed layout, by Slo Bor Media, matches well the six untitled tracks of the album. Tedeschi uses synths, voice, field recordings and gong to weave abysmal soundscapes which reminded me of Lull (circa "Cold Summer") or early Koener - dark and abysmal but with a sort of intimate and trance-inducing atmosphere that many dark ambient projects lack. "Isolationism" may be an out of date term, but it perfectly fits this music. Track 2 tries some melody, and in the fourth one the gong adds an extra feel of menace, but in general the pieces just match the "impending clouds" definition, being based on misty, slowly evolving drones."

-Eugenio Maggi, Chain D.L.K.

"A Netherworld release will always be welcome in my cd player. Some of you should already be familiar with this project, based on the two existing reviews on Heathen Harvest, The review of the double album "Eternal Frost / Firmament in Obscurity" last year, and my review of "Lost" earlier this year. Glacial Ambient is something so minimal and obscure that for those who do "get" it, they find a comfort and longing in its cerulean harmonies that other musical outputs simply shrug aside. Most of Netherworld's artwork and thesis' are dedicated to weather effects, albeit Snow, Rain, Clouds... Six Impending Clouds is as promisingly dark and dreary as its foreboding title. The first of the "Clouds" is a menacing outlook. It could almost be Death Industrial, it takes the drone effect of artists such as Raison D'être, and interlocks them with distant yearning, and sounds that resemble a chorus of Monks in the background, chanting. Dark Shadows are lifted towards the end, and the use of very infrequent, very doomy drum work adds a very nice texture to the track. Now, quite like the majority of cloud formations, this album is slow to find its feet, but when it does, it really comes into its own. The Third track for example reintroduces the minimalist and solitary excursions that the earlier releases offered with such a poignant breath. Fortunately, Alessandro has decided to really enforce the darkness in the title, and this album is covered with gloomy and dispossessing aural excretions. Just because you like one Netherworld album does not mean you will like the others, such is the vibrant nature of the maturity and diversity that is presented to us. I don't think Six Impending Clouds is as good as "Lost" for example, as Lost appealed so much more to me - it had Arctic suggestions, Female chants, Icy seductions and an overall feeling of utter coldness that it just wouldn't be matched. This is a nod to the Cold Meat style productions more than anything - the Icy feel is still here, but much more subdued and incoherent. Value for money predominates though, and with six tracks at nearly eighty minutes, everyone will find something to write about here. Like track five for example. My lips are staying firmly sealed. So, "Six Impending Clouds". Does it float and dominate the landscape like a Cumulonimbus, or does it drop and hang its weary head like a Nimbostratus?" You tell me.

-T300 (Nick), Heathen Harvest www.heathenharvest.com

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