AMNPTN - Melancholia

AMNPTN (Amineptine) is a pseudonym for a London based artist that mixes elements of ambient, post-rock and drone, and goes by the name of Sid. A four song EP ("Seasons-Winter Ep") was released in January 2012 and available for free. The debut album "Melancholia" reviewed here was released on the 30th of May 2012. An 8 track album of 31.33 minutes in length.

"EIDOLA" the introduction much describes itself musically, it describes an apparition, it tells of something with no real existence. It has a dark eerie feel with classical piano, drone and a lot of bass. This combination tells us it's a horror soundtrack. Overall I would describe the sound as ambient, but with a post-rock texture.

"ACEDIA" I believe to be telling of emotional apathy, about the spiritual sloths of this world, the physically and emotionally inactive time wasters. The piano, strings and screeching guitars make something so dark and gloomy. The album has a certain amount of art rock about it, with its classical influences and experimental nature.

"DYSPHORIA" further tells of a state of dissatisfaction. The track has a new age and cosmic feel along with the overall ambient nature of the album. Each track is taking us further and further in the same direction and its not towards the light that's for sure. This tracks says darkness in every gloomy yet poetic note. There are lots of layers including vocals which are well put together to make that horror sound.

"NAUSEA" may mean sickness or repugnance but the overall picture has got to be one of death, it probably means both. A more aggressive track, and the piano work is very challenging yet quite stimulating. It's asking questions but however you answer it's all too late anyway. This is real doom and gloom and everything is dead, we are dead.

"EPICEDIA" is the funeral song and a shorter track of just under two minutes, and ambient/drone in sound, and it passes nicely into the title track "MELANCHOLIA". This is full of very heavy and dark strings. It is certainly a good title for the album and is very depressive. Good soundtrack music, but is starting to feel like all that has gone before in previous tracks. Everything revolves those sparse piano notes and the screeching guitars.

"CHROMA" probably tells of intensity and the purity which will follow death, maybe even of judgement. So I suppose now we are heading towards our final resting place. We are taken there by the choir harmonies and piano. There are also vocals but I would excuse you if you failed to notice they were even there. The heavy bass ending of this track is different and I take it to depict the final passing over. But overall it's just as slow and gloomy as ever.

We complete with"ATARAXIA", which tells of the emotional tranquility and the calmness that will follow. It of course features more pianos and more screeching guitars. There is some very heavy slow drumming which I like, and more melodic strings. It's still sad but a more pleasant sound in general. It passes quite peacefully which I didn't expect.

Conclusion:
This album hits you in the face, it allows for no interpretation. It tells you what it wants to and there is no argument or even questions allowed. If you name yourself after anti-depressants you are likely to make depressing music and that is exactly what it is, it's negative music with no escape. It may be of some use as a tool for reflection, certainly not for meditation, but what is the point if we are all damned anyway. If you like the aforementioned genres then try it out, it's not for me, but my main reason for my score is that I found it monotonous. Having said that there is no doubt in my mind that Sid is a highly talented individual and it could make a good movie soundtrack. Sep 19 2012