Gdanian Delivers Sci-Fi Brilliance with "Induction"

Gdanian returns to Cryo Chamber with another offering of epic, synth-infused space ambient. His previous release, Submersion, was a brilliant journey into the claustrophobic aquatic depths of the unknown, and with this new release, Gdanian takes us into interstellar space, with a polaric reversal of musical theme - the breadth of the cosmos, and a story of colonial expedition. Induction is the new album from Gdanian and it displays once more the artist’s masterful use of retro synths in a tempered, controlled narrative form of minimalist narrative.

The use of synth stabs and hardware in this particular style of soundscape and drone ambience has to be taken with great care, as many an artist will ultimately lapse into song structures more akin to synthwave and outrun styles; Gdanian uses this hardware with poise and purpose. Induction is a tempered, well-crafted concept of mood and ephemera coalesced into an aural soundscape. Each track blends with the previous, and its subsequent, with their own personalities shining through the mix. There is a cinematic feel to this album, and yes, that is the tendency with Cryo Chamber releases, however, Induction has a more distinct feel in this concept; I see the images of 70s and 80s sci fi establishing shots in films, the kind of grandeur that only faded memories and abstract remembrance can bring to life in the mind, and Gdanian has the ability to conjure these thoughts with minimal effort. Low end analog throbs weave with celestial pads and ethereal arpeggios to give the album a veneer of familiarity, yet with a compelling element of mystery.

Gdanian does an excellent job of maintaining pace and composure throughout the album, a feat I personally would not be able to achieve easily; the pacing fluctuates - as a cinematic experience should - but this story is about the journey, not the action. The controlled dynamics of each track keep this album undulating in the background of the imagination, just as it needs to be. This is the best work yet to come from Gdanian, and any fan of space ambient, or the cinematic ambient genre needs to listen. You can purchase Induction in CD Digipak and digital format on the Cryo Chamber Bandcamp page.