Stärker, a Canadian-French duo, really know what they're doing. Their latest release, the captivating Spectral, is pitch-perfect, each sound source simultaneously exacting and expansive, precise and yet open like a chasm. 

The mood overall is dark, but the minimalist approach to this form of ambience leaves plenty of room for dwelling in its sunless spaces. There are faint rhythmic sequences pumping along to scratchy, textured analog signals on the opener, "Nullify". Each of the six tracks builds both vertically, along a durational axis and horizontally, as if there were an ever-widening view onto each sonic landscape. These axes are then complemented by steady increases in pressure, as Stärker skillfully manipulates the vibrating mechanism of a listening ear.