Phelios is a dark ambient project created by Martin Sturtzer that began in 2002.  “Astral Unity” is his first release with Malignant Records (although he has released material with Eternal Soul Records and self released material also).

The music we find here is expressive and hypnotizing.  The utter incomprehensible expansiveness of the cosmos is musically articulated to the listener.  While that on its own may seem a cold and mysterious idea, here it feels tangible and spirited.

Each song feels like it is its own tribute to the limitless celestial environment. Sporadically, tribal percussion emphasizes an earthy and deeply primal emotion.  The movement of the music ebbs from slow and listless to vibrant and spontaneous.  This in turn gives a joyful and cerebral slant to the compositions.

The expertise in the use of ambient effects is heard in each piece.  Arrangements and textures are well thought out to the extent that nothing feels lacking or to the other degree overdone.  The end result is a total cohesiveness of structure, inspiration and musical delivery.  The complete thought and theme is passionately conveyed in this musical concept.