36 (2) – Tomorrow's Explorers

Another release from the artist, not technically an AOTY contender, but rather en EP serving as a prologue/teaser of the things to come on the album. Also, it was supposed to be a closing chapter for the earlier "Sine Dust" EP. However it does contain some of the finest work, or ambient/drone pieces overall in my opinion.

Starting off with a hint of drone ,slowly increasing in volume as other elements join in. Soon a melancholic sounding set of strings starts to appear, and like waves they push the orchestration forwards. Nearing the end of the track, everything fades away, giving way to "Black Horizon".

This track starts in a similar fashion, but even more so seems haunted, sad, and beautiful at the same time. The strings are accompanied by what sounds like some sort of horn, like a faded memory of someone who once was there. Nearing the end, however, there's a hint of hope still left as the composition changes slightly, giving way to higher overtures before once again fading into the next track.

"Orphans of the Sky" is perhaps the most thought invoking piece on this EP. It plays about with notes in the same key, coming and disappearing again. That gives the listener some room to wonder what this really is all about. I keep thinking about someone waking up, but not really becoming lucid. Slowly drifting in and out of consciousness, like a recurring dream state. A very comfortable dream.

The last track is by far the longest, clocking in at over 13 minutes. Not that it matters, because it is quite different from the rest of the set. From the start it seems like you regular closer cut, but about halfway through, it changes its structure. Beats are heard in the distance, and as they slowly approach, the strings become distorted, changing pitch slightly. And when the beats disappear again, I can vaguely hear the theme(or at least the sound) of "Room 2" from "The Infinity Room". But maybe that's just my imagination.

Missed this one ... And sold at every source ... Amazing ...