IGNEOUS FLAME

Tolmon

Chillfactor 10 records (2003)

no cover art available at this time

review by Dene Bebbington

Pete Kelly is a composer from England who creates soundtracks to go with artistic works and also records ambient music under the name Igneous Flame. Tolmon is his first album to be released under this name. It's an impressive entry into the ambient genre which isn't afraid to take the listener to somewhat hardcore realms of flowing minimal soundscapes.

At this point I should say that Tolmon delivers enjoyable hardcore ambient sounds, but it's quite long (sixty-six minutes spread over thirteen tracks) and though not dark has an oppressive quality that can take some getting used to. The sounds on this album mentally transported me to other realms, ones that aren't familiar and not obviously themed like on many ambient albums. At the end it was as though I'd been taken to the farthest reaches of space and also to deep parts of consciousness.

The sounds on this album have, for want of a better expression, a smooth metallic quality the like of which I've rarely encountered; the nearest comparison I can think of is Altara by A. Produce and M. Griffin. Overall there's a heaviness in the soundscape, I suppose one could describe it as spooky in some respects even though it's not really a spooky or dark ambient album - if that makes any sense!

Most of the time there are flowing sounds, like shifting clouds, with some tracks being a little different from the rest. The album gets underway with peculiar juddering sensations in "Arca," but this soon gives way to the next track which is more representative. In some places, in "Dissolved" for example, the sounds are cleverly ambiguous having a vague vocal quality. And then in "Wilton" we can hear what may be samples of shunting trains giving the piece a down to earth element.

Overall, I would have to say that Tolmon is a unique album. It's got things in common with other flowing ambient works and the soundscapes are very well crafted. It's the kind of album to immerse yourself in and let it lead your imagination wherever it will. A good way to think of it as abstract art created in sound.