Aleph Naught — Coagula

When you first listen to "Coagula" by Aleph Naught, it might sound like one of the many dark ambient albums you could stumble upon, which have nothing special to deliver beyond some spooky, slow motioned sounds & sonic textures. But however, on closer inspection of the album reveals a much deeper, insightful & bleak collection of music.

"Cast the shed into the field of night" opens this album with a solemn dirge that is as dark as it is unsettling. Aleph Naught's twist on dark ambient music is, in its own way, to make it as obscure as it is depressive. The following tracks go even deeper down this dark abyss, and while at times "Coagula" sounds so distant and barely audible like dim, menacing echoes from the other end of a dark tunnel, Aleph Naught sometimes gather all of its dark energies in order to produce a painful moment of sound that is much more powerful and demanding.

From the lowest, darkest moments, to the more potent parts, "Coagula" is a haunting work of grief. While conceptually that might be enough, as Aleph Naught brings some very peculiar vibrations in this album. But some people also might get overwhelmed by the infinite sadness of the passing black procession that Aleph Naught is setting in front of them and others might get bored from seeing the same ideas passing over and over without changing. Nevertheless, "Coagula" is a powerful album of great emotional depth that will appeal to those who like projects such as Yen Pox, Letum and Lustmord.