Θ & Nyppy - Black Door

Dark ambient and experimental producers Θ and Nyppy, the first hailing from Norway and the second from Greece, have released the fourth part of the Adventurous Music Book Series. This piece in the series is titled "Black Door", and contains photographs that offers a vision into an alternate reality. Adventurous Music, the label behind the project, has stated that the photographs and music therein concerns perspective more than anything else. I suppose what's interpreted from these photographs will differ from person to person; but no matter the case, I am not here to analyze pictures. I am here to analyze what both Θ & Nyppy have managed on this four track EP. What these artists realize, then, is that texture above all else is important in dark ambient and experimental creations and they are able to deliver on that front in "Black Door". 



The first track on the EP, 'Four Carry One', is a brilliant little piece that brought me into this alternate reality. It's a curious track with a low-pitched, static noise line that runs throughout most of the track. As other odd synths warp the background, an overarching heartbeat gives the song tension. It's as if an explorer had just discovered an otherworldly secret. Whilst anxious of what might lurk beneath, they continue onward for the journey itself. I'd argue that the second song, 'Nebulae', takes a rather different approach. While elements of dark ambient stick around, such as in the stretched out synth that makes up the base of the song, IDM ticks make their mark on the track. Again, Θ and Nyppy keep a sci-fi vibe while also adding in blips that sound like they're coming from a heart rate monitor. 

'No Floor' sounds like the background track to some disgusting, slithering creatures roaming the depths of an underground chasm. As much as I appreciate it during the first minute-and-a-half or so, however, I felt as if the sound design lacked enough content to keep it engaging. A few synths lines after the three-minute mark add some flavor, but it wasn't enough to keep my attention. The last track on the album heavily relies on experimental textures, ticking beats, and ambient background samples to its fullest effect. Paired with the title 'Photon', it sounds as if there's something terribly wrong lurking within a lab. 

While I shan't debate the meaning of Θ and Nyppy's "Black Door", I can tell you that the music, for the most part, is quite stellar. With a pair of decent headphones on my head, I have listened to this EP numerous times for both enjoyment and relaxation purposes. Sure, 'No Floor' wasn't exactly to my tastes, but there are a few points in the song that I found interesting enough. The other three are very well done, nonetheless, and deserve recognition. Seven out of ten! 

This review was commissioned through our Ko-fi page.
Nov 15 2021