Alphaxone and ProtoU return to the Cosmic Void with Another Collaboration

Alphaxone and ProtoU return to the starline, the cosmic void beyond with another collaborative effort, Back to Beyond. Their previous collaboration, Stardust (2017) left many listeners dazzled by the duo’s pairing of  synthetic textures and noise oscillations, and the two have once again decided to explore further reaches of intergalactic space, but this time, they careen near the inexorable pull of a wormhole, whose Golden Dust phenomena is being researched. Along for the ride is your cat… floating in the zero gravity, catching food pellets (haha yes, I know how this reads, but check the album’s synopsis and you will understand). 

It is an interesting presentation of immersive, almost malefic cosmic ambience, yet the main narrative comes from the almost lackadaisical narrative description of the spacefarer's cat and the tedium of daily rituals and activities. The subtle nuance to the descriptors of the story, almost as an afterthought, while the pilot tries to figure the reasons why both the pilot - and their cat - were awakened from hypersleep. It is the unique way in which the story was story narrative was presented that first intrigued me, as the music is an evolving caress of warm pads, and a deep droning resonance the keeps the listener drifting along the folds of deep space, my only companion against the uncaring void is the cat, bouncing along in zero gravity.

Field recordings and sounds affect the casual day-to-day affairs of the pilot as they maintain the ship’s functions, all the while background drones and cues present the ever-present maw of the Void, the limitless vacuum of Space as it presses inward, giving a sense of subconscious dread to the listener.  

The second-hand nature of the story delivery is fascinating to me, while the music is one of Cryo Chamber’s strongest releases of the 2021 year, thus far. Song titles such as “Through the Golden Dust”, and “Delusions of Omniscience” give the album a feeling of staunch purpose for which the genre is known, however the reasons and extra minutiae of the album’s story are left to the listener to discern, to find their own meaning within the music, as well as the researching of the wormhole. 

The textured designs of the soundscapes mingled with the field recordings and sound effects are truly immersive, and this is an excellent album to leave playing in the background while the listener slowly drifts away into space.

Back to Beyond can be purchased on the Cryo Chamber Bandcamp page in digipak and digital format.