Andreas Brandal — Turning Point
The packaging is very nice for this cassette release. A full-color j-card is provided, depicting what appears to be the sun rising above some dark clouds. A pattern of circular lines resonate from the sun. The cassette itself has gold inlays with the same lines from the cover printed on the shell. Very pro!
I have to admit this release took me by surprise. I’m not too familiar with Andreas Brandal, but judging by the cassette art I was expecting Turning Point to be a really chill ambient album. However, I couldn’t have been more wrong. To my surprise, Turning Point delivers 8 tracks of eerie and mysterious soundscapes akin to the soundtrack works of Tangerine Dream and Goblin. Sonically, Brandal’s pieces are synth oriented, however traditional instrumentation is also incorporated, most notably the classical guitar found on track 2, “The Impossible World.” “Silent Screen” could almost pass as an alternate soundtrack to Castlevania, eerily playing in the background as Simon Belmont navigates toward the steps to Dracula’s castle. On “The Voice From Nowhere,” Brandal weaves some metal clanging and rustling to his chillingly progressing soundtrack. On “Dead Planet,” Brandal even manages to incorporate a Jew’s harp into the mix. From beginning to end Turning Point is the perfect accompaniment to things that go bump in the night or possibly your next RPG session.
I can’t help but be sucked into the dark tapestry Brandal weaves. A truly exceptional album through and through.