Released
1999

Label
ASH

Reviewed by
Daniel Marvin

Contact
ASH International
13 Oswald Road
London, SW17SS

Visit
ASH International

Last Edit/Update
18 June, 1999

Hazard

North

Track Listing

1. Wire Netting
2. Tangled Mass
3. Grey Speed
4. The Vibrating Room
5. Absence Or Presence
6. Transport
7. Wound / Impact

    Benny Nilsen's career as Morthound and then to Hazard has been quite impressive and his most recent dish out of "North" is truly no exception. Disorienting electronics seething and droning with gentle, reverberated feedback crawling upon the ice of a frozen lake. This is truly a recording for the exploration of Scandinavian terrian. While many seem to say they are getting tired of minimalism, I still think this disc would be appealling due to Nilsen's ability to structure such in a way which infact incessantly re-creates the sound bringing it to various new levels of experimentation especially with a number of the loops and peculiar tones which are incorporated.

    Alot of the tracks flow very well together and seem to use similar techniques and perhaps field recordings which give a feeling of desolation and emptiness. Not in a sad and depressing sort of way, just the feeling that nothing is around you. As being in the midst of 'nowhere'. Favourites being "The Vibrating Room" which uses very odd, collapsing and crumbling sounds which lie on the verge of noise, yet so far from such. Along with "Wound / Impact" which uses similar treblesque breathing tones which drone with other songs shifting and fading throughout the piece. Anyone who enjoys cold, minimalistic experimental- ambient will really enjoy this album.