Mirko Ruckels returns to Lunar Flower with the new Deepspace album, Subantarctic Sessions. If The Barometric Sun was Ruckelss representation of an epic interstellar voyage, then Subantarctic Sessions is his brazen attempt to capture the meditative experience of remaining in a single, self-contained environment. The album opener, Arctic Sun and Weather Experiment, employs a fitting title. The track begins as if the listener is standing affixed in the middle of an Arctic wind, staring unabashedly at the simmering sun, unable to move. Swirling synth-scapes imitate the freezing atmosphere as a gorgeous piano motif cycles through the center of the mix, and the effect is one of trance-inducing ambience. Ruckelss impressionistic tendencies continue with Subantarctic Phenomena, a more brooding exploration of his wintry environment marked by a low pulsating tone, and Voyaging Iceberg, which begins as a careening, varied extension of its predecessor, but quickly evolves into a bright soundscape filled with phasing synth lines and shimmering beauty. Crysanthenum Planet is perhaps the most mellow of all the tracks on Subantarctic Sessions. Its playfully whistling tones approach the serenity of a lullaby, and the piece can be viewed as the albums daydream-interlude. Mirror Sea is a glistening, enchanted soundscape that eases the album back into a contemplative mood, only to deposit the listener into the next track, Deserted. With its glacially evolving tones forging several repetitive, yearning themes at the center of the piece, Deserted recasts the listener as a lonely wanderer in this land of ice. Not to be overtaken by the harsh environment depicted in previous tracks, Ruckels ends his Deepspace album with Crustacea Parklands, a hopeful, forward-looking reprise of Arctic Sun and Weather Experiment. The panning tones of Crustacea Parklands continuously burst into an array of spectral effects, reminding the listener that the Subantarctic sun shines on triumphantly, even if it lives in the coldest, most unbearable place on earth.
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Reviewer:junbuggy - - June 19, 2008 Subject: super cool..err, cold this is a great winteresque release. it goes over you and creates an otherwordly (indeed...arctic) feel. it really is quite a splendid piece of work in the rather superb lunar flower canon.
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