In the past the label Highpoint Lowlife has mainly been concentrating on techno, dub, idm and related forms of music, but since a few release they have been showing more and more interest in other forms of music. With Mandelbrot Set they have released a form of Post-Rock, with Erstlaub they released some dark drone music and with their latest release Losthilde by the musician Stray Ghost they continue with this track.
Losthilde comes in a really nice presented DVD case with really lovely drawings as if some fabulous story is started to be told. A dark medieval setting is shown. Old houses in a dark town. It's night and something is about to happen. Starting of from this point Losthilde can't be a happy album (even the title drowns with sadness).
On the cd itself we find 4 tracks with two titles There's an ocean between us, you and I and Saudade. These titles only add to what to expect. Losthilde is an album about a lost love. All the signs are there; from the artwork to the titles, they all point in this direction.
With the first tone of the music everything already mentioned above seems to be right. Sad music, really sad music. Stray Ghost certainly is not a happy person, or at least during the period this music was created. Deep slow drones created from guitars, deep layers of doom, soft fuzz and distortion, deep scary voices. No positive sound on this release.
Not only depression and fear are the themes here, but at points the music becomes really direct and aggressive. Drums are added to make everything sound even heavier.
The four tracks really give a good idea of how this young man was feeling.
Losthilde is a very personal album straight from the heart, showing very well how a person can feel after losing the love you treasured for so long. The inspiration one can get from these kind of situations is used very well by Stray Ghost. With that he created an amazing album that makes you drown in misery for a while. In this case that is really a compliment.
For Stray Ghost maybe a better future a head, but that he may continue with making these kind of albums. He can get some of my love for that.
Also a pleasant change in direction for Highpoint Lowlife.
More please.
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