Vidna Obmana — Twilight Of Perception Redux Volume Two 1995-2002

Twilight Of Perception Redux Volume Two 1995-2002 is the next in a series of CD compilations from Poland’s Zoharum.  Each release in the series serves up a selection of rare and unreleased tracks from Euro ambient pioneer Vidna Obmana, aka Belgium's Dirk Serries.  This three-CD set takes in sixteen tracks, and as you’d imagine from such a collection, we get variation in both the tone/atmosphere, moving from pared-back ambience, all the way through to detailed/rhythmic-edged ethnic ambient works.

The three-CD set is presented in an eight-panel digipak. It features an effective mix of pink texts- underlaid by close-up monochrome photos of the leaves of decaying plant life. Just like all of the growing catalogue of Vidna Obmana reissues on the label, we get a nicely moody/ lightly arty and uniform look to the packaging.

Compared with the first volume in this series, which featured twenty-three tracks, we only get sixteen here, meaning the track run times are often longer on this three-disc set, and as I touched on earlier, a fair bit of sonic/ mood variation.

On the first disc, we move from "Urban Dislocation (Alt. Version)"- which creates a disorienting/ uneasily grim air- with its layers of forlorn/ wavering mid to low end ambient tones, snapping half-buried beats, and foreboding drones. Though to the warbling ‘n’ warming locked drones, hazed skittering rhymes, and almost piping ethno denseness of “Subliminal Storm”.

The second disc goes from slowly gliding n’ glowing ambient pitches, shaking/ rattling rhythmic tones, and mumbled male voice flow of “Shaking The Surreal”. Onto the epic twenty-three minutes of “Tapestry Of Dust” which is a slowed ‘n’ shambling blend of drifting vibe simmer, buffeting texture rub, and general low-key tonal unease.

On the third disc, we open with taunt but steady tabular trails, mysterious shaker drift, and wavery drones of  “The Embrace In Motion”. Moving onto shimmering water tones, moody feedback glides, and building percussive detail/ groove of “The Ceremonial Strom”. With the disc playing out with the track “Blur” which finds slow-mo drone pitch unease meeting sparse/ eerier rhythmic elements, which initially sounds akin to steady light night knockings of the last train.

Twilight Of Perception Redux Volume Two 1995-2002  is another fine and varied collection of tracks from one of the masters of the euro ambient form. As always, I’m very much looking forward to the next release in Zoharum reissue series.