Ab Intra — Henosis I - V

Two years after the split release with 1000Schoen and two previous releases Ab Intra return with Henosis I-V. A five track album that attempt to reflect the transformation process expressed through colour, intensity and frequency.

Henosis, the word itself, actually means unification so these five  tracks are here to make the audience interact with the music on  presumably more than just an aural level. From that interaction we are, I presume, intended to feel more than normal from the sum of the parts we are exposed to. Nice idea, a slightly different take on the usual dark ambient idea of utter desolation. However, it seems somewhat reminiscent of Coils “Blue” soundtrack for Derek Jarmin’s film.

However, onto the music. Starting with a nine minute piece this album immediately throws you into the arena of expectation. There is no subtle intro, this is tones and drones with vague 70’s sci-fi-esque sounds jittering across your frontal lobes. Already I think headphones are the order of the day for this. The elements build beautifully and with that so does the atmosphere. This isn’t a merry dance down ambient avenue, this is music that wants you with it, hand in hand for the free fall of a lifetime.

Track two is a little more playful to begin with, and could easily be the digital version of a babbling brook through an everglade paradise. However it quickly becomes a torrent and tsunami of a track that literally fills your head completely before the undercurrent of loss and mourning in the chord changes just wipe you out. As drone pieces go this is up there with Mearor Tri and Jliat.

The variety of this album is hardly noticeable when you first listen to it, especially if you are hearing it as an album rather than MP3’s (which seem to put a break in at the end point as an annoying default!) However, on the second listen the shifts become a little more apparent. This is not dis-similar to the shifts in tectonic plates – not a lot needs to move below for the landscape to change unrecognisably above.

Henosis I-V is an unmistakeable work of genius, and  whetrher you are an ardent dark ambient music lover or just someone who enjoys hearing beautiful drone and swathes of ambience, this album will easily become a favourite. Headphones or sitting alone in the dark with the volume at 11 are a must.