Join the Remnants of the Future War with Tineidae & Sole Massif

Premiere cinematic ambient maestro Tineidae returns to Cryo Chamber, but this time, he is not alone. Joining the synthetic soundscape auteur is fellow dark ambient creative, Sole Massif, and together, the two have released a collaborative split, Remnants of War, an imaginative, aurally brilliant soundtrack to a cyberpunk film in the mind. The brevity of the album description helps trigger the reader’s imagination just enough to let their mind “set the stage” as the music begins to envelop their ears, with delicate arpeggios, and warm analog sounds reflective of the late 70s and early 80s science fiction films upon which this music was undoubtedly inspired. Tineidae has seen two previous solo releases on Cryo Chamber, as well as being involved with other collaborative albums, and his pedigree is readily accessible upon first listen - his penchant for certain grandiose analog sounds and flourishes that immediately conjure sci fi films is immediately noticeable; this is Sole Massif’s debut appearance on the premier dark ambient label, but finds himself in able company, and the two artists’ abilities weave together to create a unique and wholly enjoyable futurist journey into the aftermath of a future war - a war with AI. 

“Cinematic” is perhaps the best description for the overall setup and flow of Remnants of War, the deft use of pads and weaving of arpeggiated synth lines propel this album forward; perpetual motion is created with every track, giving a synthetic “ebb and flow” to the music, each track interlaced with other, seamlessly moving to the fore, and then retreating to the background as the next track rises to front. Arpeggiated synth lines are occluded with filtered sweeps, to slowly give way to grand analog pads that open the listener space, punctuated with electronic glitches and pulses I mentioned perpetual motion previously, and again, I feel the need to use the term again, as the movement of each track is continuous, propelling the listener forward, yet not in tangible, defined ways. The concept of the album alone is enough to attract sci-fi music fans, but musically, this soundtrack feels akin to the likes of a darker, moodier Vangelis, and at times a languorous Mick Gordon, producing a grand soundscape that combines flesh and circuit.

Remnants of War is one of the best albums to come from Cryo Chamber so far this year, and fans of sci-fi ambience and film scores will absolutely love it. This album will undoubtedly attract newcomers to the genre, as its core feels like a film soundtrack, and new listeners is always a good thing. If I had to name something I did not like with this album, it would be that it only contains eleven tracks, but just like some of the great sci-fi films of my childhood, it does not overstay its welcome - the story opens, tells its tale deftly and departs, leaving a lasting impact on the mind of the listener. I cannot recommend this album enough, and you can purchase Remnants of War in CD digipak and digital formats on the Cryo Chamber Bandcamp page.