Subheim – Approach

If you've never heard the track "Stranded", then what can I say... So many records here, but I keep coming back to this track over and over and over and OVER again... It's the perfect mix of electronic and ambient. Almost trip-hop, whatever... Words just fail to do it justice.
For some (to this day) unexplained reason, I had this one as a wav file on my desktop, but without the artist name or any further information about the release. I remember I used to ask countless friends if they knew who made this track... It took me several years to find out it was Subheim, so you can imagine the smile on my face when this piece of vinyl finally arrived... And yeah, without a doubt, it makes EVERY time I listen to this again just that little bit sweeter.
For me, life is all about finding these little gems... ;)

This is just amazing. The use of orchestral elements combined with some haunting voices (Voces Perdidas) and the very dark "background" soundscape makes this one of the most emotional and still mostly instrumental albums.
I haven't heard much music that gives me this indescribable feeling I get here. Somehow sad because of the dark mood here but also very happy at the same time.
So if you love dark and slow music go and get this immediately, you won't regret it :)

I just had to post and say - wow. This is an amazing album. It's been my experience that a lot of albums with very high ratings on discogs labeled (among other things) as IDM tend to be disappointing, often repetitive, technically unchallenging, Basic Channel-derivative and forgettable.

I further qualify this review by saying I'm not a big fan of all of what's found on the Tympanik label. What Subheim's Approach has over most of those recordings is that it's very smooth and not at all glitchy. "Voces Perdidas" is one of the most darkly, sensuously beautiful female vocal-lead tracks of this type since "Rachel's Song" off the Vangelis Blade Runner soundtrack. That's the best way I can describe this album - dark, sensual beauty. "Howl," the two versions of "Hollow," and the last track are my favorites.

Highly recommended, I think this is a can't-miss.

I first came across Tympanik Audio, a Chicago based label with the dark electronic roster, late in 2007, with their first double compilation release, Emerging Organisms. In the first months of 2008, I reviewed an intelligent rhythmic industrial album by Totakeke, ELekatota. But with this fourth catalog release, I can shamelessly proclaim that Tympanik has struck gold. With the release of Approach, Tympanik is quickly gaining momentum to the ranks of the beloved Hymen and Ad Noiseam. Subheim is the brainchild of Greek composer, Kostas K, whose complete biography is shadowed by the haunting sounds and occasional sighing voices of Katja. The organic elements of piano, cello, and ambient atmospheres are struck with slow building crispy beats and bitcrushed digital sounds. Approach is Subheims debut album. It perfectly encompasses all of my favorite elements: orchestral, cinematic, dark, crunchy, rhythmic, and extremely musical. "Moved by subjects such as urban isolation and the outburst of mankind's deepest emotions, Subheim delivers the ideal soundtrack for those moments of chaos or melancholy reflections." After half a dozen listens and consecutive ratings of five stars on my playlist, I give up and throw my hands in the air. I refuse to rate music with numbers, so hopefully these words will speak for themselves, as I attempt to contain my excitement for Subheim. Being filed right along my top favorite artists in the genre, Architect, Kattoo, Hecq, Lusine Icl, Arovane, Gridlock and Aaron Spectre. Highly recommended! Do not miss this next step in evolution of electronic music.