Band: Project Oracle

Album: Voices of Oblivion

Album Year: 2007

Label: Aural Benekkea

Genre(s): Dark Ambient

Band Website: http://www.myspace.com/projectoracle

Download From: http://www.benekkea.net/release/bkk024.htm

Rating: 7.5/10 

Track list:

1. Voices of Oblivion

Benekkea Net.label starts off the year strong with Project Oracle’s “Voices of Oblivion.” This release goes deep into the traditional dark ambient sound and doesn’t deviate too much from established conventions in the genre. For this reason, this album is an instant classic, it is also the album’s undoing. How’s that for a contradiction.

There is no lack of atmosphere contained in these cell walls. Dreary sounds of isolation and solitude paint the already darkly lit scene in which Project Oracle constructs. This is perfect music to listen to while falling asleep if you wish to add a touch of horror to your dream imagery. Never becoming too offensive, this album drones on in the background, quickly becoming sonic wallpaper. Large spaces of sound reverberate off concrete architecture while distant bells and ritualistic waves mesmerize the subconscious into a deep state of trance.

As I mentioned before, this album implements all of the dark ambient conventions flawlessly. I am reminded of some of the classic releases of Raison d’etre and Lustmord. However, I found myself wanting to hear the artist take some risks and deviate from the established formula. The last few minutes of the album come in strong and provide for a very satisfactory conclusion, leaving me wishing more of the album could be as creative as this. I have no doubt in my mind that once Project Oracle pushes himself to deeper experimentation, something grand will emerge. And until we get there, we have a very worthy work of ambient to enjoy… for free!

-Jason

January 2007