30th June 2013
Frore is Paul Casper from Virginia Beach, who spreads his composing talent not only with his tribal ambient infused project, but also with Scar Limit, focusing on harsher, industrial terrains. But we will remain in quieter electro-acoustic realms, so let’s take now a closer look on Paul’s newest work entitled “Shadowlands”, which was released on Relaxed Machinery during March 2013 as Frore’s 5th full length album. Frore’s discography include also two CDr albums, “The Nameless Place” (2009) and “Undercurrent” (2013), both released via Dark Duck Records, as well as two download releases for Earth Mantra, “The Raven” (2009) and “Axis Mundi” (2012). Frore has already achieved a lot of positive reactions with his previous albums, so I am very glad to see this gifted soundscaper taking his part in Relaxed Machinery community, it’s well-deserved!!!
In case you are not familiar with Frore, “Shadowlands” is a perfect example, where Paul Casper skillfully utilizes except electronics also various acoustic instruments. The opening “Sky Glow” precisely bridges modern with ancient, expansive, wide-screen desert drones intermingle with gently emerging and evolving tribal pulses. Myriad of gradually increasing percussions coexists in absolutely gorgeous synergy with primordial wind instrument invasions (flutes, Slovak fujara…) and mysteriously immersing drone zones. This is definitely a tribal ambience at its finest, a true medicine for my ears!!! “Terra Pulse” unfolds with sparse, but deeply ebbing abyssal drifts augmented by assorted distant rumbling dissonances. Later balmy tribal pulses smoothly invade, progress, cascade and culminate into cavernously evocative and hypnotically intense shamanistic journey. Again richly detailed and hormoniously spellbinding, another big one!!! Announced by a thunder, a 19-minute long “A Fevered Sleep” moves into softly radiant groove terrains, smoothly growing into mesmerizingly ritualistic climax. Second third embraces with its quieter and meandering surface, fully captivating, before sneaking back into groovier ethno origins. Towards the end, miscellaneous sonic artifacts awake and take us to gorgeously spectacular subterranean cavern. Aurally delicious and glorious composition!!! “First Ray Of Light” continues on this stunningly absorbing path, where warmly aerial washes sweep across tranquilly graceful panoramas, here and there meticulously enriched by distant tinkles. This is Frore at its most serene scenario, monstrously visualizing and soothingly surrounding!!! Desert-ambient maximus!!! Gentle rain sounds lead “A Name On The Wind”, but soon heartening mandolin’s stringed wizardry joins the stage with utterly evocative drifts. Later on gorgeously poignant shakuhachi flute steps in, but it’s Armenian duduk that steals the whole show with all its magical beauty and expression. Immense cinematic drone textures with seductively yearning acoustics are fused in absolutely magnificent fashion. Creme de la creme of “Shadowlands”!!! And even if slightly reminiscent of longing atmospheric splendor explored on “Fissures” milestone, “A Name On The Wind” gets promptly my nomination for Ambient Hall of Fame!!!
Hats off to Paul Casper, Frore is certainly one of the rising stars on tribal ambient scene and “Shadowlands” album only confirms this status. Exquisitely fine in flavors and instrumentations, yet virtuously balanced work showcasing huge talent, accomplishment and potential of its sculptor. I also hope one day the albums like “The Raven” and “Axis Mundi” will find their way to a silver disc… But until then, “Shadowlands” album is a really triumphant release to get!!!
Source – http://www.hypnos.com/smf/index.php?topic=6067.0