Yen Pox/Troum – Mnemonic Induction CD Given their separate history as masters of droning atmospherics, and their mutual admiration for each others work, a collaboration seemed only natural. Now, after years of discussion, Mnemonic Induction has finally materialized, resulting (not surprisingly) in one of the greatest, most mind bending works of dark ambient ever. A 60 plus minute exploration through nebulous, grey areas of the mind…expansive drones and spiraling vortex’ of sound that hover near the shadowy, distorted zones of a nightmare before ascending to mountainous heights and dense, billowing climaxes. This has a remarkable, liquidous feel that unfolds in a fluid, intense nature…patterns converge and meld seamlessly as layers of sound are added and subtracted; thundering lows rise up from the abyss, and spiral into the stratosphere, only to dissipate into a vacuumous black hole. The effect is something that plays on the mind, recalling moments before complete wakefulness exists…a tattered and restless dream state where images & thoughts flicker and appear from a fog. Designed by Stephen O’Malley, housed in an attractive eight panel digipak with thoughtful text. One of our proudest moments, and one that set’s the stage for some high quality dark ambient releases forthcoming later in the year. (Malignant Records).
~ Richard SanFilippo (BRAINWASHED)
A lucid dream in one in which you are aware you are in the dream state while it is happening. Mnemonic induction is a technique developed by Dr. Stephen LaBerge that induces lucid dreaming at will. This being the case, there is no hint of irony whatsoever in regards to the title of the collaboration between two of the heaviest-hitters in the genre of dark, atmospheric music, AKA, “Dark Ambient.” Troum (Germany) and Yen Pox (United States of America) have admired one another from afar for at least a decade. With the completion of the tracks on Mnemonic Induction, the two acts have bridged their mutual respect and admiration across time, an ocean, and two distinct, yet very similar, philosophies regarding the exploration of the human mind through the medium of music and noise. Realistically, there is nothing distinctly “dark” about the children born from the union of Troum and Yen Pox. The CD itself does not impress an overtly “creepy” or “sinister” atmosphere upon the listener. However, to truly enjoy atmospheric music – ambient music – the frame of mind of the listener is the key. What you take away from Mnemonic Induction is completely up to you and the mood you happen to be in while you experience the whole of the CD. On the other hand, and I say this in all sincerity, were there ever an “official” soundtrack to the entirety of the written works of H.P. Lovecraft or Lord Dunsany, the musical journey that Troum and Yen Pox have taken and, for our benefit, archived in plastic, would most definitely fit the bill. The sounds, musical injections, and collaborative experiments in dream-inspired cacophony are intricately choreographed into a ballet for the mind; shapes and colors can be heard, while visualizations and imagery are most definitely implied by the artists through careful architecture. Essentially, as said before, Mnemonic Induction provides the landscape that you allow yourself to travel through. Assembled in four tracks – movements, if you will – Mnemonic Induction stands as a sort of standard; a flag raised on a mountain of dreamscapes by two of the most talented practitioners of atmospheric, musical experimentation. The only negative comment I could possibly make in regards to the triumphant collaboration between Yen Pox and Troum is that even though the duration of the disc is over one hour, it ends far too soon, leaving the listener wanting for much, much more and not at all ready for reentry into the world of the awake. ~Shannon W. Hennessy (RECYCLE YOUR EARS) TROUM/YEN POX ~THE WIRE YEN POX & TROUM - MNEMONIC INDUCTION Whether you've owned anything by either artist or not, you owe it to
yourself to get this if you love long, deep, echoing drones and textures.
Don't take "drone" too literally, there is definite movement here. An obvious comparison would be LUSTMORD's 'heresy', also a compliment as that
is considered a darkambient classic.
YEN POX & TROUM - MNEMONIC INDUCTION (CD by Malignant) Two bands who have each mastered the world of subconscious drone music. I think Troum might be a little bit better more known as Yen Pox, but that might very well be just my own European perspective of things. This collaborative effort started breathing years ago, but it was born only recentely. The materialized form is very nice digipack, with an hours worth of four lengthy drone pieces. Slowed down voices, echoing and reverberating in a cave near the sea, breathing sounds and obscured sounds from guitars, hoovering around in sound effects. Music that lifts you up as much as it leaves you tied to the earth. The perfect soundtrack to a documentary on Discovery Channel of the lives of ants in the desert, but the commentary is not necessary. The look at a vast amount of sand (panorama shot) and ants crawling down there, busy, lively but hardly noticeable for the eye. The sun rises above the desert, the heat is on, and the fata morgana becomes a reality. It's hard to believe that this is a collaboration of various people around the world, that may have not ever met, but only exchanged sounds through the post. It all seems to fit perfectly together. Carefully crafted, dark ambient. Nothing new innovative to add to the genre, but definetely a highlight thereof. ~VITAL WEEKLY (#340 week 38)
Yen pox and Troum - Mnemonic induction (English
from Russian translation) ~ Эксперимент
A more than sixty one minute colossal piece divided into four large sections without discontinuity is the result of the collaborative effort by this couple of well known German and US based artists. An enormous cut so subtly evolving that you should devour it without a single breath in order to crumble its content up, since it develops Troum’s philosophy of music as pure emotion that finds the direct way to the unconsciousness; but with the extra spice of the dark soundscapes of its American partner, generating (both together with Moljebka Pvlse’s release on CMI) the perfect droning evocative experience of 2002.
This is the case of an album created to go right through your brain and discover some of its usually unused or forgotten parts, to pull out memories you didn’t know you had, to discover an inner state you didn’t know you could. The only way to know what is inside of this round piece of plastic is experiencing it and reaching the necessary profundity that this sleeping monster deserves. Probably your consciousness won’t recognize what has happened after the playing concludes, you’ll try to describe the music and you’ll can only say that it was an immense layer alive.
And because in fact, there’s a lot inside: emerging from the rumbling background there’s a dynamic structure of sinister melodies and suggestive resonances (probably the most noticeable shade of Yen Pox) that go ahead along the growing path that the deep current follows, proving how well the collaboration succeeds. In fact, the meeting could have been under a new moniker created for the occasion, but this way is highly representative of what you can expect here: actually Troum and Yen Pox making their best together, it’s that easy.
To bring to a close, a special mention should be done regarding the amazing work by the Malignant Mastering Service, which has achieved such an extreme use of the low frequencies that you should avoid playing this through sensitive low quality speakers if you still want them. The accurate sonic train for such an amazing ‘dream-like’ passage.
Highly elaborated experimentations in sound without missing the creepy touch, although a solid construction more than just a simple blend of styles or the anecdotal reunion of two respected artists. This time 1 + 1 equals 2.
~ Marcos Alcocer - SEKUENCIAS DE CULTO
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TROUM
& YEN POX "Mnemonic Induction" CD, 2002 MALIGNANT RECORDS