"Intone The Morph Orb" and "Terminal Ice Wind" return to life with the rerelease of Mutual Consuming, bringing an out of print gem to new, eager audiences. Gloomy but not oppressive, the tracks mold together as one, embodying the continuum that served as their inspiration. Starting with "Intone The Morph Orb," drawn out drones waver slowly, giving the layers texture and a basis for varying highs and lows to come forth, furthering the dimensions of the works. There is a very earthy, chthonic feeling to the album, rocky and windswept, with nothing hopeful to break up the vast horizon. Colder and more windswept, "Terminal Ice Wind" feels like a vortex in a subterranean cave, the water on the walls turning to ice, and the fury rising upon descent. The build from rocky and vast to cold and intense is worth the sixteen minute journey, and this piece tells the tale quite a bit more vehemently than the previous one. All told, the thirty-two plus minutes for these soundscapes goes by quickly and certainly holds up for further exploration. Each layer is well thought out and placed, and the pieces work very well to compliment each other (yin and yang, after all). Relay for Death's restraint should be noted here, as they avoid letting their work go too far in either direction (low and dark or high and airy) and keep the album perfectly grounded.

 

Although previously available, Mutual Consuming is highly deserving of this vinyl reissue. An album that is very well suited to being placed on the turntable, speakers cranked, and enjoyed with body and mind, the work will develop its own continuum with the listener, mutual consumption of enjoyment and time, forming a deep bond only strengthened with further spins. Full of depth without being overly crowded, Mutual Consuming gives the listener a lot of space to wander and place themselves in the record, making each experience more personal and enjoyable. For more