Rapoon - Seeds In The Tide Volume 01

Twenty year veteran of the dark ambient genre, Rapoon, otherwise known as Robin Storey, comes with Seeds In The Tide Volume 1, a twenty year anniversary release containing two disks. The first CD contains rare tracks that were released on compilations between 1993 and 1999, while the second disc contains a reissue of 2002's Messianiacghosts. What's even better is that this is a pretty good release, and what's more is that there should be a following release coming soon documenting rare releases from years 2000 to our current date, 2013.

Now, one might need not an explanation as to why this music is good, as the name Rapoon should just bring joy to one's ears. However, just in case one would like to argue, there is a whole lot to love in this release. Just because these are tracks that were put onto a compilation does not mean that they were tracks just good enough for a compilation. This is still the same artist, and all the similar essences are still here.

The African and Indian tribal influences make a comeback on most of the tracks, such as Shakaah. This particularly track also weaves in a few samples here and there, being distorted and sounding extremely high pitched, like children. What makes it a bit more interesting is that every time the samples come through, so do a few more excitable beats. It makes for a fantastic play on the album.

However, a problem that I did note with a few tracks were the repetitious beats, that sounded like they looped and looped and looped, because they did loop and loop and loop. I noticed this on Shakaah, Visionneuse, and Birethen in some moments.

Of the drone/ambient tracks presented on the album, Dust of Faith was the one that really stuck out to me the most. For the first half of the song, we are fed mainly drone sounds, with a very faint line echoing in the background. However, as the song progresses, we are given a really faded drum beat. It's like watching a sacred ritual progress from far away, and it was absolutely fantastic.

And, the last track I really want to point out from the first CD would be Distance In, and it's mainly drum work. It definitely reminds me of a frantic chase through a jungle, and picks up the pace a lot more than the other songs. However, as I said, this was merely the first CD that I was trudging through. Next up, we have Messianiac Ghosts.

Rather than being a rerelease of the original, this second disc contains the original tracks, untouched and much different from their later variants. And the tracks include a twenty two minute version of Messianic Ghosts, an older version of Eye of Cloud and Horned Moon, and the original half hour version of Babel's Tongue.

Messianic Ghosts does have a sort of repetition behind it, but also a form of religious mysticism that I really kind of blinked it out of existence, for the humming that takes place within the song along with the ambience was very seductive. Eye of Cloud was simplistic drone and ambience, and was pretty unremarkable. Horned Moon played once more with the tribal elements, and the giant track of Babel's Tongue was a grand song that can easily be meditated to.

So, as I said a few times before, maybe not in the same phrasing but with similar thought behind the statement, this may be a rerelease or reissue of things that have already passed and been done, but it's so good to visit the past once more. Sure, there's a lot of fresh material always being released at one point or another, but it's always nice to go back and look at where everyone gets their roots from every once in a while. And the first volume of Seeds In The Tide has done a wonderful job of that. Sep 06 2013